The CEO and board chair of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) have resigned following an independent review.

The review revealed “serious and systemic issues” within the organisation, and was launched after allegations emerged that a senior staff member had urinated on colleagues during a Christmas function in 2021. 

The report also shed light on other concerning matters plaguing the agency.

The review disclosed a pervasive culture of misconduct and complaints throughout the APVMA, with formal complaints filed every four to six weeks over the past five years. Analysts from Clayton Utz discovered a lack of reporting of these issues to the board, suggesting a failure to address the concerns and take necessary actions. 

Their report also raised concerns about the influence of the chemical industry on the APVMA, highlighting a potential industry capture that compromised the agency's regulatory responsibilities.

Additionally, the review found that the APVMA had prioritised meeting registration targets for agricultural and veterinary chemicals at the expense of monitoring and compliance activities. 

The agency was criticised for adopting an educational approach to enforcement rather than imposing stronger penalties, aligning its regulatory stance with industry interests.

Amid the fallout, both the board chair, Carmel Hillyard, and CEO Lisa Croft, tendered their resignations. 

The review also highlighted the detrimental impact of the controversial relocation of the APVMA from Canberra to Armidale, orchestrated by former Nationals leader and agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce. 

The forced move resulted in significant staff turnover, loss of corporate knowledge, and a departure from public sector values. 

It is possible the agency will be moved back to Canberra, pending further investigations by the Matthews inquiry.

While the review did not find any evidence of inappropriate chemical usage, concerns were raised about the excessive time taken to review chemicals, with some ongoing reviews spanning over 15 to 20 years.