Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce says it's "absurd" some staff from a key government agency being moved out of Canberra are working out of a McDonald's restaurant.
Mr Joyce is the minister in charge of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, which is shifting from the national capital to Armidale in his NSW electorate of New England.
A Senate estimates committee was told on Tuesday senior executives were using the wi-fi at the Armidale McDonald's while they look for a new office.
Mr Joyce told reporters on Wednesday he didn't need to seek a review of the matter, as it was clearly "absurd" and could be rectified easily.
"The idea that you have to work out of Macca's is a choice that they've made," he said.
"I've been overwhelmed by people saying it was ridiculous and there was office space if they wanted it."
But the minister stood by the relocation decision.
"Let's spread the largesse of government in a more abundant way across the nation, not have it in little pockets or one pocket called Canberra," he said.
Labor agriculture spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon said Mr Joyce needed to raise the white flag on the relocation of the agency, which had been a "thought-bubble".
"He must put his own electoral interests aside and say 'I got it wrong'," Mr Fitzgibbon said.
The authority's chief executive told the hearing a new building would be needed because existing options were either too small or in need of too much refurbishment.
Twenty out of 100 scientists had left the authority, quitting rather than move out of Canberra.
Public sector union deputy national president Rupert Evans said on Wednesday APVMA staff members were reporting "rock bottom morale".
"Having staff working out of a Macca's shows the government has completely dropped the ball on this, but what's really scary here is the expertise that's being lost and the gaps that's causing in this agency's critical work," he said.
He said the problems with the relocation of the authority, which is 97 per cent self-funded by industry, were threatening agricultural production and Australia's international competitiveness.
The APVMA is recruiting in New Zealand and Canada.
