It was recently revealed in the budget estimates only 14 of APVMA’s staff had agreed to relocate, with 110 refusing to, which critics say would result in a huge lose of experience in the specialised field.

However, Mr Joyce said he was negotiating very closely with the head of APVMA and “getting peak industry bodies on side”.

“I’m absolutely certain this will go forward,” he said.

Mr Joyce also hit back at Opposition leader Tanya Plibersek, who visited Armidale last week and said Labor would not support the relocation without the results of the cost-benefit analysis, which Mr Joyce has so far refused to release.

“She obviously doesn’t believe in decentralisation,” Mr Joyce said. He said the report would be released once it had gone before the Cabinet.