The Board met in Canberra on 11 July 2023, with the meeting primarily considering the implications and response to the Final Strategic Review Report, prepared by Clayton Utz and subsequently released by Minister Watt on 14 July 2023.
Clayton Utz Final Strategic Review Report
The response to the Review Report from the APVMA has already been made public. However, the Board would like to emphasise that it, along with the Executive Leadership Team, has accepted the Strategic Review’s findings and the resulting Ministerial Direction and has undertaken to continue to work diligently towards addressing the findings of the review and act in accordance with the directive immediately.
The findings of the Strategic Review reflect the APVMA as it was up until February 2023. Many matters reflected in the report are historical, and significant changes to the agency have been made by the Board and the interim Executive Leadership Team over recent months.
The strength of the APVMA is its staff – who demonstrate their commitment to Australia’s agvet chemical regulation system on a daily basis and consistently, diligently and professionally strive to deliver the APVMA’s regulatory responsibilities. The Board and interim CEO express their deep appreciation to the staff of the APVMA and commit to working with them to make the reforms needed to sustain our long-held reputation as a world-class regulator.
APVMA Strategy 2030
A Board-initiated process has been underway for some months now to develop a strategy for the APVMA that provides a vision and strategic direction for the agency to 2030. It will enable the APMVA to prepare and position itself over a longer-term time horizon to fulfil its regulatory purpose.
I am pleased to advise that the Board has approved a final draft version of the APVMA Strategy 2030 and an associated implementation plan. These will now be the subject to final consultations with the Minister and Department before they are publicly released.
Next meeting
The Board is scheduled to meet next on 6 September 2023 in Armidale.
Dr Steve Jefferies AM
Acting Chair