AUSTRALIAN Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority public servants have made the ultimate sacri-fries, forced to work out of McDonald’s Armidale.
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A lack of office space meant the workers had to use the restaurant’s free WiFi, the national pesticides authority boss told a Senates Estimate hearing on Tuesday.
McDonald’s Armidale owner Benita Johnson said the restaurant welcomed anyone who wanted to conduct business.
“It’s really not that bad, a good coffee, clean toilets and an easy access for people to meet – we welcome the APVMA,” Ms Johnson said.
“A lot of customers have meetings in our restaurant, we have easy access to car parking, free WiFi, toilet facilities and a McCafe that can offer coffee and cake while meetings are going on.
“I really can’t believe this is all over the news.”
The APVMA boss struggled to convince her colleagues to move from Canberra to northern NSW despite orders by the Coalition government.
Ms Johnson said she couldn’t understand why Armidale was being cast in such a bad light.
“I just don’t like that this whole thing seems to show Armidale in a bad light, because we have a lot going on here, this town has a lot to offer,” she said.
The APVMA are now recruiting regulatory scientists from overseas after 20 of the 100 scientists quit the job.
Numerous empty office buildings in Armidale have been deemed unsuitable and a new office block would need to be built to accommodate the agency the Senate Estimates hearing heard.
Armidale farmer Ken Waters has offered to put up APVMA staff in his vacant office space rent free for 12 months.
Mr Waters contacted Barnaby Joyce’s office with the proposal because he wanted to show he and many others in the city “fully supported the move”.
“It will be the biggest thing for Armidale since the establishment of the university,” Mr Waters said.
“There is no need for these organisations to be in Canberra, Sydney or Melbourne, I think it’s better if we can get them away from the big cities.”
The office backs onto the mall across from the new courthouse.
The APVMA expects up to 60 staff to remain in Canberra and work from home after Mr Joyce’s policy has banned them from having an office or gathering in any space in the capital.