CropLife

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.

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.