Federal Labor MP Gai Brodtmann has written to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull urging him to reverse a decision to move 175 public service jobs out of Canberra and into Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce's electorate.
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Ms Brodtmann wrote to Mr Turnbull's office on Tuesday as a last resort, as the decision by Finance Minister Mathias Cormann, at Mr Joyce's urging, was not subject to approval by the parliament.
Her letter was sent on the same day as Canberra Liberals leader Alistair Coe broke ranks with his federal colleagues, criticising the basis for the decision as he had not yet seen a "good business case made" to move the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority from Canberra to Mr Joyce's northern NSW electorate.
It was revealed last week the forced move would strip more than than $157 million a year and more than 350 direct and indirect jobs from the Canberra economy.
Ms Brodtmann wrote that on the basis of that analysis, the proposal had "no merit", and if it had not been considered by Cabinet, "then its approval should be reversed".
"As the cost-benefit analysis makes clear, the economic cost to Canberra exceeds the economic benefit to Armidale," she wrote.
"As such, this relocation is a net cost to the Australian economy, even before the cost of delayed approvals for new chemicals and sourcing replacement staff for those unwilling to relocate are considered."
Comment was sought from Mr Turnbull's office, but it is understood the letter had not yet reached the Prime Minister's Office as it was only sent on Tuesday.
Mr Coe said the Canberra Liberals had "always maintained the national capital in the right place for public service jobs".
"We think there are real efficiencies for keeping jobs here in Canberra and we'll continue to advocate for jobs to stay in Canberra. Where there's a compelling need to shift jobs elsewhere we'll assess those and judge it on its merits however at this stage we firmly believe the jobs based in Canberra should remain in Canberra," Mr Coe said.
"At this stage I haven't seen a compelling business case but of course I'm not going through the detail as my federal colleagues would be but when it comes down to it the Canberra Liberals want to see jobs remain in Canberra and we'll continue to advocate for that."
Deputy chief minister Yvette Berry said she'd called Mr Joyce's office about the move and the "dangerous precedent" it set.
"What this effectively means is a deputy prime minister in a government can move people around this country at a whim without any parliamentary process required," Ms Berry said.
"Moving public sector employees away from a city that was designed to provide a public service to Australia is the wrong move."
She said it was of particular concern because of where the public servants were going.
"It is a concern that the personal preference of an elected member of parliament takes the opportunity to move people into their own electorate for their own personal benefit. Of course we all want to do the right things by our communities but this is ... a diabolical decision that would have an effect for future public service organisations or decisions of deputy prime ministers," she said.
