Public servants forced to use major fast-food chain as office

When the Federal Government decided to move the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) from Canberra to Armidale the should have checked on office availability first.

It has been reported that officials of the APVMA have been forced to do their work at a local McDonald’s because there is no offices for them in Armidale at this time.  The move which was endorsed by Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce.and is set to cost taxpayers $25million has had it’s fair share of protest.  Some employees and scientists that have worked for the APVMA quit rather than move.

Nationals MP Andrew Broad told the press that a lot of “public policy is constructed in coffee shops around Canberra by public departments” so the temporary situation of the APVMA isn’t a big deal.  The APVMA boss has stated that there isn’t a facility big enough to hold the department in Armidale and a new building will have to be built.  A claim that the Deputy Prime Minister disagrees with saying, “Armidale was the first city to get the NBN, so this idea that you have to work out of Maccas, that’s a choice they’ve made”. He added, “I’ve been overwhelmed by people saying ‘that’s ridiculous, there is office space here if they want it’.”

What do you think of the situation?  Do you think the move was to benefit or hinder the APVMA’s movements?