![POLICY PLAN: The Agriculture Minister says the move is part of the Coalition's policy of decentralisation government organisations. Photo: James Brickwood POLICY PLAN: The Agriculture Minister says the move is part of the Coalition's policy of decentralisation government organisations. Photo: James Brickwood](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/37sRjZccYfaNxXbGxARzun2/863e8ac0-e418-4ba1-9c52-a93f30ce6d70.jpg/r0_245_4316_3187_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
BARNABY Joyce has once again faced pressure over his decision to relocate the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority to Armidale.
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The Deputy Prime Minister was grilled on ABC's Insiders about why the cost-benefit analysis had not been released.
"The cost-benefit analysis is complete and in some areas it's indeterminate, some areas it's saying it's of benefit, other areas it's saying it's not of benefit," Mr Joyce said.
Mr Joyce was asked if he would release the report, he responded: "I don't think so at this stage".
When asked to elaborate on why, he said: "The decision has been made".
"A higher authority has had something to say on that and that's the Australian people." he said.
"We did take it to an election. The Australian people voted for us and we're going to see it through."
Mr Joyce has been criticised by Labor for wasting taxpayer dollars on a report he intends to ignore. However the New England MP says decentralisation of government organisations was a Coalition policy.
"I do believe in developing regional towns," Mr Joyce said. “I think it's important that we create centres of excellence. We're putting RIDIC into Wagga. Moving Fisheries from Canberra into Adelaide. Moving Grain Research Development Corporation, into Adelaide and into Toowoomba.
"Yes, it is in my electorate, but it makes abundant sense that a university that focuses and has its expert knowledge in this area also have the capacity to work with APVMA."