Launceston council cuts 10.66 roles to save $1.89m a year

The City of Launceston is cutting 10.66 full-time equivalent positions, mostly management, coordinator and team leader roles, to save at least $1.89m a year, The Examiner reported on 2 November 2026. The paper questioned the timing of the announcement, which landed during the council election.

Staff were emailed about the changes on Monday 26 October, and affected staff had one-on-one meetings the next day. Chief executive Sam Johnson told the paper councillors were briefed at the same time as staff. The connections and liveability portfolio has been dissolved, with its remaining staff absorbed into other portfolios. At least two leadership roles have gone from the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery (QVMAG). Mayor Matthew Garwood was contacted by The Examiner for comment.

Why it matters

Johnson described the cuts as organisational alignment and said the focus stays on front-line services in a tough economy. He said the council had to be “fiscally responsible because we can’t always expect rate increases to be the answer.” The decision was made in October after a vacancy opened in the executive team, he said, and the council wants its structure to match its strategic plan. The Examiner reported Johnson insists ratepayer services will not suffer. The report did not detail any effect on planning or development staff.

The numbers

The Examiner puts the saving at no less than $1.89m a year, and its standfirst rounds that to nearly $2m. The 10.66 FTE cut falls mostly on management, coordinator and team leader positions. Some affected staff will go into a redeployment pool for other council roles rather than leave the organisation.

What’s next

The changes take effect at the end of January 2027. Johnson said customer service would be kept up by cross-skilling staff, and said service would improve under the changes. He pointed to the earlier move of the visitor information centre into Town Hall, which gave Town Hall seven-day opening and saved on rent. Those staff will now work across Town Hall and satellite sites such as Carr Villa Cemetery. Asked about further cuts, he said he had no immediate plans for any. Earlier Launceston coverage includes the Cimitiere House sale campaign.