Barnaby Joyce to use APVMA inquiry to push decentralisation

The senate has agreed to investigate the government’s policy to relocate corporate Commonwealth entities with agricultural policy or regulatory responsibilities out of Canberra or any other capital city. The inquiry’s first order of businesses will be to look at the APVMA’s move from Canberra to Armidale.

However, Mr Joyce was unconcerned by the inquiry and said the idea “that all the wealth of the nation just rests in Canberra” was outdated. 

 “We have been trying to get Labor to engage in the conversation about decentralisation, which is growing jobs into regional Australia and relocating government agencies out of major cities,” the Agriculture Minister said.

“We’re going to grab your senate inquiry, we’re going to expand it, and we’re going to say why there should be more decentralised to more country towns,” Mr Joyce said.

“We’re doing it in our department and we’re going to see how we can do it in other departments.”

Regional organisations will have the opportunity to have their say.

“Every town that has ever wanted Centrelink or a tax office, every town that has ever wanted a Centre of Excellence, every town that has wanted an agency such as the Grains Research and Development Corporation or the Murray Darling Basin Authority, now is the time to make your bid,” he said.

“Every council, Chamber of Commerce, CWA and community association in every regional town is invited to make a submission to this inquiry, to tell Canberra and the Labor Party, why regional Australia deserves Commonwealth agencies bringing well-paid, skilled jobs to your area.”

Shadow Agriculture Minister Joel Fitzgibbon said the inquiry would be the first detailed look at how the APVMA would perform its functions and any consequential risks to human and animal health.