The federal government has announced six more public service agencies will be relocated from Canberra as part of its ongoing decentralisation strategy. The move was revealed in the federal budget, which also outlined a net gain of 900 jobs for the public service overall, though some cultural agencies like the National Library and National Archives will face cuts.
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack confirmed the relocations but did not specify the number of jobs affected. Among the moves, the Department of Infrastructure's Inland Rail Unit will shift from Canberra to Toowoomba, Dubbo, and Wodonga. The Indian Ocean Territories offshoot will move to Perth, the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations to Darwin, and the Unique Student Identifier Registrar to Adelaide.
The Indigenous Affairs Group Regional Network, currently split between Sydney and Melbourne, will relocate to Parramatta and Shepparton respectively. Additionally, an Office of the National Rural Health Commissioner will be established in Adelaide.
The announcement follows the controversial relocation of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) to Armidale in 2016, which saw over half its staff depart. Labor MP Andrew Leigh criticised the latest moves as 'pork-barrelling' and unsustainable, while ACT Liberal Senator Zed Seselja hailed the budget as a win for Canberra, noting most new jobs would stay in the capital.
