SLASHING the pay of Worksafe Tasmania's Primary Mining Inspector is "short-sighted", says mining safety expert Michael Quinlan.
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The government is reducing the salary of the position from more than $200,000 to as low as $118,000.
A government spokesman said the position was incorrectly graded at state executive level four due to "a historical anomaly", and the position was being reclassified to SES level one.
Professor Quinlan has conducted three audits of mining safety in Tasmania and said his recollection was that the salary was banded at SES level four to attract a suitably qualified candidate.
"I don't think it was an error. I was around when the position was advertised and I understood they [the government] decided on that level to get someone in," he said.
The University of NSW's School of Management lecturer said the decision to reduce the salary was short-sighted.
"No other inspectorate in Australia is slashing the salaries of PMIs," he said.
"By engaging in money saving you risk losing suitably qualified people and make it almost impossible to rehire."
"Penny pinching from the inspectorate when the mining industry is in trouble is the last thing you would do as it is when the industry needs that safety oversight."
Professor Quinlan said the position, currently filled by Andrew Tunstall, was highly specialised and necessary.
"In my audits I made it clear you need an engineering qualified mining inspector to go underground and make safety inspectors," he said.
In a letter to Treasurer Peter Gutwein, Australian Workers Union branch secretary Ian Wakefield said the union was concerned the reduction would lessen the chances of attracting a suitably experienced mining engineer to fill the role.
The move was also criticised by Opposition Leader Bryan Green, who said the pay cut could put lives at risk,
Mr Gutwein said he was "astounded" by arguments against the change as it meant more money for mine safety.
"The government is providing the Chief Inspector of Mines with sufficient resources to ensure appropriate levels of mine safety, as evidenced by an additional $400,000 over four years allocated in the 2014-15 state budget," he said.
"The position of Principal Mining Inspector is being retained and is not being downgraded and a competitive package will be available to attract a suitably qualified mining engineer to the role."
