The forced move of a public service agency from Canberra to northern NSW would rip more than $ 157 million a year from the capital ' s economy as well as costing the ACT region 365 jobs . The shock figures are contained in the long awaited costbenefit analysis of the forced move of the Australian Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority , by accounting giant Ernst and Young . The study shreds the economic rationale for the move , finding the benefits to the Australian economy are modest and the advantages for the agency itself are limited . It was also revealed on Friday that taxpayers are to be hit with a $ 25 . 6 million bill just to move the authority from Canberra to the heart of Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce ' s northern NSW electorate . The minister made the cost public on Friday while claiming the endorsement of former Burke ' s Backyard TV presenter Don Burke for the controversial move , which has been condemned as blatant pork barrelling by Labor . Industry lobby groups CropLife Australia and Animal Medicines Australia added their voices to the chorus of opposition on Friday , with both groups saying they opposed the move to Armidale . The cost revelation came as the Coalition government bypassed Parliament to get its controversial forced relocation of the 175 Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority public servants from Canberra to northern NSW moving . Mr Joyce has used a regulatory order to decree that public service agencies with agricultural policy or regulatory responsibilities have to be located in a regional community not within 150 kilometres by road of Canberra or the capital city of a State . The order does not need to pass Parliament and is not subject to a disallowance motion . EY found that by year three after the move , Canberra would have been shorn of 365 direct and indirect jobs and its economy would be $ 155 million worseoff each year . The economic benefits for the Australian economy associated with moving the APVMA from Canberra to Armidale are modest , it said . This is because the strategic and operational benefits of having the APVMA operate out of Armidale appear to be limited . Mr Joyce acknowledged that many of the authority ' s Canberrabased workers did not want to move to Armidale but the minister said they would be supported by a moving committee and advised them to look at the upsides of the northern NSW town . Staff who may be concerned about moving to Armidale should know we will work in partnership with the committee to ensure the smoothest transition possible , the minister said . Armidale has NBN , excellent cafes , art galleries , a university , cathedrals , quality health services , small bars , quality schools and a welcoming community . Celebrity gardener Burke , who had a role in setting up the authority in the 1990 s , said the move to Armidale looked like it would be the highlight of the authority ' s 20 year history . This is the best thing the APVMA has ever done , to go to Armidale , Burke said . It puts you in the absolute centre of country activities which will keep a balanced focus of the APVMA . They need to be in touch with people , particularly the country . I believe in this move , I really do .