An independent review of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has revealed a number of ‘serious allegations’ in the Authority’s activities regulating Australia’s agricultural and veterinary chemicals.
According to the review, it found serious allegations of chemical industry capture of the APVMA, which appeared to have played a key role in the organisation not performing its full regulatory responsibilities.
The review found that a controversial move of the Authority from Canberra to Armidale NSW, resulted in a loss of corporate knowledge, a loss of corporate culture and a loss of experience and knowledge of public sector values.
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Murray Watt said the independent review found serious and systemic issues with the regulator’s operations, conduct and governance.
“At my request, the APVMA Board commissioned an independent review into the operations of the APVMA, which was conducted by law firm Clayton Utz,” Senator Watt said.
“The matters identified by the review are very serious and point to systemic problems with the administration and governance of the APVMA.”
“The report also found that former Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce’s decision to move the regulator to Armidale resulted in a loss of corporate knowledge, a loss of corporate culture and a loss of experience and knowledge of public sector values.”
Senator Watt said his first course of action is to be a rapid evaluation of the APVMA’s structure and governance.
“This will be conducted by eminent former public servant Ken Matthews AO,” he said.
The report from the rapid evaluation is to be provided to the Minister by 30 September and will include recommendations on the future governance, structure and funding arrangements of the APVMA.
He said that importantly, the independent review concluded that the material it had reviewed ‘does not indicate any instances where agvet chemical products have been registered inappropriately’.
Both the Chief Executive of APVMA, Lisa Croft and Board Chair Carmel Hillyard, have tendered their resignations in recent days.
Acting arrangements are in place while a nationwide search will be conducted for their long-term replacements.
The 64-page review on APVMA can be accessed at this PS News link.
