Updated: 10am, Wednesday 17 June 2026
As many of you would be aware, Madeleine Ogilvie MP, tendered her resignation from Cabinet in late May, and with it responsibility for Community and Multicultural Affairs, among other portfolios. This week, Jane Howlett MP, who had subsequently been sworn into the portfolio, joins the list of departures after moving to the backbench.
As a result, the Premier has announced that following a Cabinet reshuffle, the Hon Roger Jaensch MP, will return to Cabinet as Minister for Community Services and Multicultural Affairs, having previously served in the role (formerly Community Services) in recent years. Marcus Vermey MP has also been appointed to the role of Parliamentary Secretary for Community and Multicultural Affairs.
TasCOSS is acutely aware of the disruption and uncertainty caused by such a frequent churn of reporting ministers, and the challenge of having to build a new relationship and shared understanding each time.
We will be seeking a meeting with Minister Jaensch in the coming weeks to ensure they are quickly brought back up to speed on the priorities for our industry and the operating challenges our members are facing, as well as headline concerns around funding cuts over the Forward Estimates in the recent Budget.
In partnership with Minister Jaensch and the Tasmanian Coalition of Community Service Peaks, TasCOSS will look to progress important work around funding security for community services, including longer-term (five year) contracts, reviewing indexation arrangements and progressing an outcomes framework. Pleasingly, the development of the Community Services Partnership Agreement is underway, which will enable the industry, government and relevant departments to provide shared input around decision-making, and work together on industry sustainability priorities and how they can best be enacted. We’ll have more to say on this shortly.
As always, TasCOSS is here if you’ve got any questions or concerns. Please send us an email or give us a call on (03) 6231 0755.