The loss of Barnaby Joyce appears not to have affected the Federal Government’s decentralisation push.

Agriculture Minister and Liberal National Party MP David Littleproud says the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) will still be moved to Armidale.

He said the shift will be used as template for future decentralisation projects.

The new site for the APVMA in Armidale was announced last week.

“We take a big step forward … in the decentralisation of government agencies into regional and rural Australia,” Mr Littleproud said. 

Former agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce said the APVMA needs to relocate to improve its performance.

He said the move could be seen as a matter of life and death.

Mr Joyce said bold moves must be made to deal with the “incredibly noble task, which is the feeding of 10 billion people by around about 2050”.

“We have got to do our part. If we don't do our part then somewhere between now and 2050 people are going to start starving to death, because we won't have that capacity to provide that food,” he said.

“You have got to take the hard decisions and see them through the hard times and have the perseverance or the nation will stay at a point of status quo. We aren't a government that believes in the status quo.

“We believe in the advancement of our nation across all quarters. Yes, there were people who doubted it but now you can see the plans, the block, see the people moving here and the head of APVMA moving here.”