This was published 7 years ago
Armidale move could cost APVMA public servants $100,000
By Noel Towell
Public servants at the national pesticides authority in Canberra say they could be left up to $100,000 out-of-pocket if they go with their employers's forced relocation to northern NSW.
About 200 workers at the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority have been looking at their options since Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce announced he would force the agency to move to the heart of his New England electorate.
Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce.Credit: Bradley Kanaris
Fairfax revealed last week that APVMA bosses were considering rewarding workers who agreed to make the move with pay rises worth 15 per cent and up to 12 flights a year.
But public servants at the authority are worried that selling packing up and leaving their lives and homes in Canberra could leave their families up to $100,000 worse-off.
APVMA workers also worry their partners could face unemployment if they give up their jobs in Canberra to move to the regional town.
The agency says the relocation compensation package is still a draft and yet to be finalised and that there will be work for its employees in Canberra right up to 2019 so they have plenty of time to make plans for their families.
The APVMA also says it had done well hiring much-needed new staff despite the looming move to northern NSW, recruiting more than 50 workers, including 15 regulatory scientists, since July.
Despite the relocation packages under consideration, APVMA workers are worried it will not be enough, especially those who have to sell their Canberra homes and start again in Armidale.
"Staff have been advised that the costs associated with the sale of their house in Canberra and purchase in Armidale," one source told Fairfax.
"Agents' commissions and stamp duty etc will not be reimbursed, leaving most staff around $50,000 out of pocket immediately.
"The package also fails to adequately cover removal costs and does not even consider the loss of jobs for partners or increased schooling costs for children needing to finish courses in Canberra.
"The all up costs staff will be expected to meet will in most cases be around $100,000."
But an authority spokeswoman said it was too early to say what the final shape of the relocation packages might be.
"The APVMA has provided the draft relocation and retention policies to staff for consultation and to ensure staff can begin to get the information they need to make an informed decision about their future with the APVMA," she said.
"As the APVMA is currently in negotiation with staff on these policies it is premature to discuss the details.
"The intention of both policies is to encourage staff to remain with the APVMA and to make the transition to Armidale.
"The APVMA will still be operating out of Canberra until 2019 so there is still quite some time for staff to consider their options."
The spokeswoman said the relocation and retention policy would be paid out of the $25.6m "funding envelop" identified in the cost-benefit-analysis of the plan.
She also said recruitment had continued despite the news of the unpopular move.
"Between 1 July 2016 and 15 December 2016 37 staff have left the APVMA, including 16 regulatory scientists," the spokeswoman said.
The APVMA has conducted a proactive recruitment campaign to fill jobs that became available prior to and after 1 July.
"From 1 July, 52 staff commenced with the APVMA.
"Of these, 15 were regulatory scientists."