Two female bosses quit Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority

Two top executives at Australia’s agricultural chemicals regulator have resigned after a damning report revealed a series of staffing incidents, including an employee who urinated on colleagues at a Christmas party.

An assessment by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) commissioned by Agriculture Minister Murray Watt and released on Friday found ‘clear cultural problems’ within the organisation.

The APVMA’s president, Dr. Carrie Hillyard, and CEO Lisa Croft both stepped down in recent days because the review found the organization had not adequately responded to complaints or maintained adequate records.

The reviewer, law firm Clayton Utz, said the peeing incident was just one of many that plagued the APVMA.

“There were clearly cultural issues with the organization as formal complaints were received on average once every 4-6 weeks for five years,” the report said.

The chair of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, Dr Carrie Hillyard (left) and CEO Lisa Croft (right) both resigned in recent days

Clayton Utz said the complaints were spread “throughout the organization” and were made by and about employees at all levels.

“There are also a significant number of complaints referring to serious consequences for the individuals involved, including numerous cases of employees having to take periods of stress leave or feeling unable to go to work due to mental health issues.”

The peeing incident following the 2021 APVMA Christmas party was referred to the police and public services commissioner by Senator Watt in February.

Senator Watt said at a news conference Friday, in addition to widespread complaints, the report found allegations that the AVPMA was endangered by close ties to the chemical industry.

“The number and scope of the problems at the APVMA have turned out to be much greater than I think any of us expected,” said Senator Watt.

“It is concerning that the review has revealed serious allegations that the chemical industry has overrun the APVMA, which appears to have played a key role in the organization’s failure to fully discharge its legal responsibilities.”

Agriculture Secretary Senator Murray Watt ordered the overhaul of the organization

The report said the government watchdog would use education as an enforcement measure when criminal or civil charges were recommended and had industry interests “embedded” in its priorities and culture.

The report also found that the watchdog had eight chemical reviews that have been going on for more than 15 years.

However, the assessment found that there was no evidence that chemical products had been wrongly registered.

In 2016, former Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce moved the APVMA from Canberra to Armidale within his New England electorate, and the report says this contributed significantly to a collapse in the organization’s culture.

“The APVMA had very significant employee turnover, including a CEO change, associated with the move,” the report said.

“This turnover of staff would have inevitably led to a loss of corporate knowledge, a loss of corporate culture and a loss of experience and knowledge of what it is like to work in the Australian civil service.”

Senator Watt has issued a directive that ongoing chemical reviews should be completed “as soon as possible” and that a new study should be conducted on how to restore the culture and governance of the APVMA.

He said the initial findings had fueled personal fears that food safety could be compromised in the future if the issues raised were not addressed.

An acting CEO and interim chairman of the board are present and the government will review those positions later this year.