APVMA delivery on track

11 Feb 2019

Federal Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce, has dismissed reports which claim the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) is behind schedule.

 

“In fact, it’s quite the opposite - the new APVMA building in Armidale is nearing the final stages of completion and there is strong interest in local jobs,” Mr Joyce said.

 

The APVMA received nearly 300 applications for between 15 and 40 jobs during a recent recruitment round. There were 79 applications from scientists all over Australia for 19 science jobs. It is expected the new Armidale premises will house the 150-strong majority of APVMA’s staff by mid this year.

 

What’s more, the latest performance statistics (September 2018 quarter) released in November 2018, show that the APVMA has significantly improved, with 86 per cent of applications finalised within the legislated timeframes. This is the fifth straight quarter of timeframe performance improvement.

 

Even Labor concedes “overall performance figures seem to have improved”.

 

“What this shows is decentralisation is working, bringing more jobs, greater wealth and a better standard of living for people in Armidale and the New England,” Mr Joyce said.   

                                                       

 (ENDS)

 

Send an Enquiry