The Coalition government will have to defend in front of a parliamentary committee its forced relocation of the pesticides authority from Canberra to northern NSW.
The Senate voted on Wednesday to investigate the highly unusual order by the Turnbull government to force Commonwealth agricultural agencies to move well away from capital cities.
It is a signature policy of Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce, who is moving the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority from Canberra to Armidale in the heart of his New England electorate, a plan that has been condemned as "blatant pork barrelling" by the opposition.
Mr Joyce has persisted with his plan, despite a cost-benefit analysis showing little or no economic benefits, the refusal of nearly all the APVMA's regulatory scientists to move and the blanket condemnation of every industry group in the sector.
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Labor's agriculture spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon says the inquiry will focus on the process around the order, and its impact on the agencies' ability to do its job.
Mr Fitzgibbon says the inquiry, which is to report by May, will focus on the APVMA move and will take a detailed look at risks to human and animal health, the profitability to the agriculture and fisheries sectors, chemical industries and Australia's trading reputation.
Mr Joyce's office has not responded to a request for comment but Greens' Senator Janet Rice joined the chorus of opposition on Thursday to the APVMA.
"The decision to uproot the lives of APVMA staff and their families to the Member for New England's own electorate looks and smells a lot like pork barrelling, so it is important this issue is publicly and transparently examined at a Senate inquiry," Senator Rice said.
"It is high time the process, decisions and impacts of this policy order were brought out into the sunshine."
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