Department relocation push not based on logic or need

By The Canberra Times
Updated April 23 2018 - 11:28pm, first published May 20 2015 - 11:01pm

Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce, a keen advocate of "redirecting" Commonwealth jobs and money away from the ACT to regional Australia, has run into difficulties with his push to relocate the Grains Research and Development Corporation from Canberra to Wagga – and not from the usual suspects. Grain growers are reportedly uneasy about their GRDC levies being used to fund the move, estimated to cost $31.2 million. Grain Producers Australia chairman Andrew Weidemann says the redirection will have "a massive impact" on the corporation's research budget, and that he has been "fielding discussions with growers who are confused as to why their money would be spent on what would be seen as a political move rather than a research move for the interests of growers".

Subscribe now for unlimited access.

$0/

(min cost $0)

or signup to continue reading

See subscription options

Get the latest Canberra news in your inbox

Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date.

We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy.