The institute is a training facility for emergency management staff and volunteers.

Shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus has applied twice to Attorney-General George Brandis to visit the institute, which the federal government plans to relocate to Canberra.

But Senator Brandis has denied access.

A spokesman for Senator Brandis said the Australian Public Service was not to be politicised.

"It would be highly inappropriate for Mr Dreyfus to visit the institute, as part of a federal government department, for the purpose of a political stunt," he said.

“Mr Dreyfus was offered a formal briefing about specific issues regarding the Australian Emergency Management Institute. He declined this offer."

The spokesman said the department would be happy to take Mr Dreyfus through the government’s decision to transition the institute to a new service delivery model. 

Mr Dreyfus said he wanted to discuss the impact of the institute's closure with staff, who can relocate to Canberra or take redundancy.

“Senator Brandis’s claimed commitment to free speech clearly doesn’t extend to workers whose jobs are in danger," he said.