Thursday, 19 February 2026 

School principals have made a damning assessment of embattled Education Minister Jo Palmer’s leadership of key government school reform, a new survey has revealed. 

A statewide survey conducted by the AEU reveals principals have almost no faith in Palmer’s handling of system reform, or the chaotic rollout of Multi-School Organisations (MSOs). 

Key results: 

• 90% of principals lack confidence that MSOs will improve student achievement 
• 89% lack confidence that schools will be funded equitably under the new model 
• 100% report they have not been adequately briefed about the new role of Executive Leads (45% of respondents have not been briefed at all) 
• 95% feel ‘left in the dark’ by the Minister about their school’s funding and staffing for 2026 
• 91% say the Minister’s decision-making lacks transparency (38% state there is ‘zero transparency’) 
• 87% feel they are not being genuinely consulted with by the Minister before decisions are made 
• 81% lack confidence in the Minister’s decision-making at a systemic level (31% state no confidence) 
• 79% do not support the Government’s new strategic direction for public education 

AEU State Manager Brian Wightman said the results are an embarrassment for the Minister. 

“This is what happens when a Minister bulldozes ahead with major structural change while ignoring the profession,” Mr Wightman said. 

“Jo Palmer has completely lost the confidence of school leaders. Principals are being left in the dark about fundamental issues such as funding, staffing, and governance.” 

“These reforms are being done to schools, not with schools – now principals are sending a very clear message that they do not support the Government’s direction. You cannot strengthen public education by sidelining school leaders.” 

“This reform agenda is already collapsing under the weight of its own arrogance and incompetence.” 

Tasmania’s principals are demanding genuine collaboration, transparency, and evidence-based planning from Minister Palmer. 

Quotes from principals surveyed: 

• “I have never felt so undervalued. Consultation is tokenistic and input is not acted upon. Questions asked of the Minister, Secretary and Executive are not answered, and commitments made by these people are not followed through on.” 

• “I’m very unsure of what is happening because I don’t believe the government know what they are doing. How can something piloted with three schools possibly be reflective of how a strategy will work across much larger groupings?” 

• “At [the] forum, we have asked for the research and data to show us why this will work in the Tasmanian context, nothing. My concern is that this is just another way to ‘sharpen the pencil’ and take more money and resources off our schools.” 

• “I do not support the focus on MSO trials nor the approach to organisational restructure. I support organisational restructure but not the approach they are taking or the way they are making decisions. The ‘consultation’ is tokenistic and no feedback that doesn’t align with the small group of decision makers’ decisions is being taken on board or listened to.” 

• “We were just told about it in an online meeting. No consultation opportunities provided.” 

• “I’m sure DECYP feel that Principals have been briefed… but to be honest, I have no idea how Executive Leads will work with schools to ‘lessen the load.’” 

• “Consultation webinars/briefings were like watching episodes of The Office. No information, lots of egos, no change management at all.” 

• “I am extremely disappointed with the lack of understanding/transparency around the new model and the change of direction without consultation.” 

• “Due to the lack of consultation, absolute immediacy and lack of clarity, it is incredibly difficult to trust the process & take the leap required into the unknown. To create change, you need to build trust & bring people along for the journey – both are missing for me.”