LAUNCESTON museum director Patrick Filmer-Sankey's contract will not be renewed after he allegedly failed to provide a safe staff workplace, according to council general manager Robert Dobrzynski.
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At the same time Mr Dobrzynski said he was sad that Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery director Mr Filmer-Sankey would leave the job because of his considerable creative talents.
"He has achieved a lot at QVMAG," Mr Dobrzynski said yesterday.
Mr Dobrzynski was speaking the day after Mr Filmer-Sankey said that allegations of misconduct had never been brought against him.
Mr Dobrzynski said he believed that the record needed to be set straight.
Mr Dobrzynski revealed plans for the future of the nationally renowned museum after Mr Filmer- Sankey's departure.
He was adamant that they included maintaining the museum director's position and the iconic status of the facility.
Mr Filmer-Sankey said on Monday that he expected to be sacked at a meeting today with council management. He also said he feared that he would not be replaced.
Mr Dobrzynski said that he had initially agreed to remain publicly silent on the matter after receiving an independent assessment of ongoing staff strife at the museum under Mr Filmer-Sankey's leadership.
But the museum director's public comments this week meant that for him that agreement was null and void.
Mr Dobrzynski said that he had been aware of serious trouble among staff at QVMAG, including allegations of bullying before he took up the job as Launceston City Council general manager earlier this year. He had organised an independent investigation soon after he arrived.
He had then acted on the outcome of the investigation by last month. He had called on the senior staff member allegedly at the centre of the bullying and harassment complaints and Mr Filmer-Sankey to say why they should not face code of conduct complaints.
The senior staff member is on stress leave and has yet to answer the allegations.
Mr Dobrzynski stressed that bullying and harassment complaints had not been brought against Mr Filmer-Sankey.
"But he was responsible for the overall management of the QVMAG and providing a safe workplace and he did little ... about an ongoing situation for nearly 18 months," he said.
Mr Filmer-Sankey said earlier this week that he had brought in independent mediation "which went on for ages" in an attempt to resolve matters at the museum.
That had not worked.
Mr Dobrzynski said that further action should have been taken.
Mr Filmer-Sankey has denied that he failed to meet his duty of care obligations to provide a safe working environment.
