5 December 2024

Guy Barnett, Attorney-General

The Tasmanian Government is committed to ensuring that the Public Trustee is positioned to best serve the needs of the most vulnerable Tasmanians.

The Government has received and accepted advice on the restructuring of the Public Trustee recommending a Statutory Body model, delivering a greater focus on the provision of long-term quality and effective services. 

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Guy Barnett, said the Tasmanian Government’s reform of the Public Trustee is primarily about protecting Tasmania’s most vulnerable.

“The analysis has found that the current model is incompatible with the needs of Tasmanians and the current GBE structure,” the Attorney-General said.

“The Government has accepted this advice and will move to adopt a more efficient model that brings the core services that are most important closer to Government.

“We want to make sure that vulnerable Tasmanians are looked after and get better services from the Public Trustee.”

The Government will continue to work closely with the Public Trustee during the restructuring process as we deliver this important reform to the benefit of the Public Trustee’s core clients and the Tasmanian community.

There will be a strong focus on ensuring existing clients continue to receive the services they need throughout the transition.

“We appreciate all of the work that the Public Trustee has undertaken in implementing the recommendations from the recent reviews, and we appreciate the ongoing support from the Chair to ensure the best possible outcomes for clients of the Public Trustee, its staff and the Tasmanian community - particularly in relation to the identification of some of the transitionary issues and risks that will need to be carefully manage,” the Attorney-General said.

The Government will finalise the new model by 31 March 2025.

Ms Alicia Leis and WLF Accounting & Advisory undertook the structural analysis.

The Attorney-General thanked Ms Leis and WLF for their efforts to provide the advice in a timely and efficient manner.