Government rejects recommendation to move trouble-plagued regulator to Canberra
The controversial chemicals regulator relocated to regional NSW by former agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce will not be returned to Canberra but will be restructured.
The controversial chemicals regulator relocated to regional NSW by former agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce will not be returned to Canberra but will be restructured to mend cultural and governance issues.
A review into the problem-plagued Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority has made 33 recommendations to fix the government agency, which has suffered performance and workplace problems since it was moved to Armidale in 2019 as part of the Coalition’s decentralisation initiative.
In a surprise twist, Agriculture Minister Murray Watt rejected a key recommendation of the review by former senior public servant Ken Matthews and said the organisation would remain in Mr Joyce’s New England electorate.
“The disruption and chaos caused by Barnaby Joyce when he forcibly relocated the APVMA to his local electorate put a massive strain on the staff at the regulator, and according to the independent review ‘has had serious impacts on the performance and culture of the APVMA’,” Senator Watt said.
“We will not be making the same mistake. The APVMA will remain in Armidale, giving certainty to local workers and the local community.”
A government policy order that staff be based in Armidale will be revoked, which Senator Watt said would resolve recruitment challenges.
The APVMA is the independent regulator responsible for the safe and effective use of pesticides and veterinary medicines, many of which are used in agriculture.
Only 15 of the agency’s 140 full-time staff made the 750km move when the APVMA was relocated to Armidale, which a review by law firm Clayton Utz found had led to poorer performance outcomes and cultural and governance issues by stripping the organisation of experienced staff and corporate knowledge.
Some agriculture industry bodies were concerned the APVMA would be brought under the control of the minister or department and that it could politicise decisions about chemical use.
The government rejected the proposal, despite Mr Matthews recommending it.
The government said it would support “many” of the 33 recommendations made by Mr Matthews, but would not release a full response until “mid-2024”.
“A strong, independent, well-functioning APVMA that is making the best science-based decisions is vital to the future success of the agricultural sector,” Senator Watt said.
“At the same time, the APVMA needs to be structured so it can independently and efficiently approve new, safe chemicals that help farmers do their job.
“This new, balanced approach is in stark contrast to the disproportionate focus on chemical approvals over compliance and enforcement driven by the (previous) Liberal-National Coalition government.”
Industry groups, including the National Farmers Federation, GrainGrowers and CropLife welcomed the government’s response to the report.
“While CropLife was one of the most vigorous and loud critics of the relocation of the APVMA to Armidale under the previous government, we support the minister’s decision not to make the same mistake twice,” CropLife chief executive Matthew Cossey said
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