Hundreds protest against proposed changes to SA Museum

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Hundreds of people have protested on the steps of state parliament against proposed changes to the South Australian Museum. Former staff, volunteers and supporters are warning the institution could 'wither and die' if the planned revamp goes ahead.

Transcript

00:00 It's been touted by museum management as a grand reimagining, but those protesting this

00:06 morning say the reality is very different.

00:10 SA Museum wants to cut 27 jobs from its research division.

00:15 Those workers would then be replaced by 22 positions with a so-called curatorial focus.

00:20 One of the concerns that we have is that this represents a dumbing down and a degradation

00:25 of the work that our members do.

00:27 The opposition, Greens and the Public Service Association among hundreds who gathered at

00:31 Parliament House.

00:32 The potential impact on research a focus for many.

00:35 Bureaucrats are foisting a vision on this museum that doesn't sit with the community.

00:40 It doesn't sit with the volunteers.

00:42 It doesn't sit with the scientists.

00:44 Last week, the museum's chief executive told a parliamentary committee he isn't trying

00:48 to dumb down his research department.

00:50 This isn't about devaluing research.

00:52 This is broadening the responsibilities, role and responsibility for our researchers.

00:58 Also present today, First Nations peoples concerned about the future of the museum's

01:02 Aboriginal Repatriation Program, which has seen hundreds of ancestral remains return

01:07 to country in the last three years.

01:09 The people that are there now, they need to be there because they hold that knowledge.

01:14 They've been doing a lot of work.

01:16 The museum's plan is set to be tested as it faces likely arbitration with the union in

01:21 the Employment Tribunal this week.

01:23 After two long hearings this week, that dispute remains unresolved and will be subject to

01:28 further proceedings in the SAIT.

01:30 A parliamentary inquiry also likely.

01:33 The Statutory Authorities Review Committee, which I sit on, is ready, willing and able

01:37 to hear all sides of this debate and reimagine democracy for our museum.

01:42 Both the museum and the Arts Minister today releasing statements saying they are listening

01:46 to feedback being provided on the proposed plan.

01:49 And a public consultation on the reimagining has been slated to begin next month, giving

01:53 those at today's rally the chance to put their grievances in writing.

01:56 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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