APVMA

Representatives from the agriculture and veterinary sector have opposed the Federal government’s decision to reintroduce a board to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA). CropLife Australia and Animal Medicines Australia both spoke out against the new board, contradicting the Minister for Agriculture Bridget McKenzie’s initial announcement. “These amendments are simple, non-controversial changes introduced […]

Two of the government’s flagship moves under its decentralisation policy have had their new financial year targets curbed. There’ll be dividends eventually, a bipartisan report claims, with positive outcomes for government, rural and regional locations, and employees in the long run.

A new financial year has dawned, and with it several new federal government initiatives have begun.

At least 110 of around 200 staff have decided to leave the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority rather than move with it to Armidale, but the Member for New England Barnaby Joyce insists it’s still a good idea.

The APVMA’s move to Armidale has not been a good advertisement for the federal government’s public service decentralisation policy. Now the agency says it’s back on track with KPIs improving and reform on the cards, appeasing jittery industry stakeholders.

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority says its latest performance report shows improvement, but its difficult relocation to Armidale continues to undermine the public service decentralisation policy championed by the Nationals.

Ministers normally play down critical audits in their portfolio, preferring to look on the bright side and focus on the future. Barnaby Joyce has gone the other way, slamming the APVMA and drawing a very long bow in his interpretation of a highly critical report.

Minister for Agriculture Barnaby Joyce is attempting to get the hotly debated relocation of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority back on track with the appointment of a new acting chief executive.

The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources has come under fire from one of its key industry stakeholder groups, which is angry about the APVMA relocation. It claims the minister’s public service decentralisation exemplar could cost farmers billions of dollars.

Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority CEO Kareena Arthy is staying in Canberra to take up a senior role in the ACT Public Service, which is all about promoting the capital as a vibrant destination for tourism and business.

Barnaby Joyce is right — not everything should come down to a cost-benefit analysis. So where’s the intangible benefit in moving public servants to the countryside that will offset the expense and loss of output?

UPDATED: Barnaby Joyce responds to backlash after the Nationals demand parts of the Australian Public Service be chosen to relocate out of Canberra. An assessment process will be revealed ‘mid-year’ and agencies and departments will have until August to make the case why certain teams need to stay.

The ill-advised relocation of the APVMA to Armidale stars in Estimates once again, and it’s just as difficult to get specialist staff to move from Canberra as almost everyone expected. Public servants don’t get to make these decisions, says the Deputy Prime Minister.

Industry stakeholders have voiced serious concerns about the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority’s latest KPIs, blaming its forced relocation to Armidale. The deputy PM plans to spam a Senate inquiry examining the issue.