The country’s capital city was formed after Sydney and Melbourne politicians could not agree on which metropolis should become the centre for public administration in Australia.

The Victorian capital hosted the national parliament from its first sitting in 1901 to 1927 when it shifted to the Australian Capital Territory. In the decades afterwards government departments and their staff were relocated to a city that was described as a “good sheep paddock spoiled”.

Now the Coalition government, and particularly its rural Nationals MPs, have a driving passion for moving jobs away from Canberra into country areas.

Decentralisation, as it is known, is being promoted by deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce, with the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority shifting to Armidale in his northern NSW seat.

It is a move that has been described by opponents as the ultimate example of pork-barrelling by a politician with considerable sway in his party.

Even APVMA employees are dead-set against relocating some 750km north from sleepy Canberra to positively comatose Armidale.

In fact, just last month APVMA employees were given some “talking points” to help them navigate awkward questions during so-called “BBQ conversations” over Easter. Those who remain unsure about their future were coached to answer with “For the moment, I'm getting on with the job and considering the information on the transition as it’s provided”.

Employees who are almost certain to relocate were encouraged to say "I'm listening to what our executive have to say about the transition, but for the moment I'm getting on with the job" in response to queries from people they “love and trust”.

There is no doubt every regional area would welcome an influx of highly skilled and well-paid workers. But will taxpayers end up having to pay more for public servants in country areas than they do in Canberra? A Productivity Commission report released last month was cool on the idea that moving government bodies acts as a panacea for regional economies.

Any proposal to decentralise government jobs – state or federal – must be accompanied by a legitimate business case, or we will all be losers in the long-run.