Former UTAS executive files integrity complaint over leadership handling of conflict disclosure

Allie House, a former director of business partnering at the University of Tasmania, submitted a July complaint to the Tasmanian Integrity Commission, citing mishandling of her conflict-of-interest disclosure concerning a long-standing personal relationship with deputy vice-chancellor Craig Barling. House alleges that details of the relationship were shared without justification in September 2025, leading to a “smear campaign,” isolation, and eventual suspension pending medical clearance, which she says was an unreasonable request.

After the university sent a termination-on-grounds-of-ill-health notice on July 9, she was formally dismissed on August 5, with the institution refusing to comment on individual employment matters. Barling resigned in October 2025 and later joined law firm MinterEllison, asserting his departure was unrelated to the relationship. The university’s 2025 annual report revealed an unnamed senior executive received compensation exceeding $1.26 million, sparking union criticism over the payout amid staff redundancies. Both the university and the integrity commission declined to provide further details on the complaint’s status.