Public servants in Canberra’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) have heard they may have to go rural to keep their jobs, with Government plans to move the agency to a regional area.

The announcement follows word last week that the Department expects to have to cut up to 300 jobs in order to meet increased efficiency targets from the May budget.

Now, in an internal message to staff, reports say department secretary Andrew Metcalfe warned those who keep their jobs may still be affected.

Metcalfe has allegedly set an internal committee the task of reviewing roles, and reporting back on which could be performed at a different site.

The committee will find out “in particular, whether there are some functions currently in Canberra that could be effectively moved to our regional areas,” Mr Metcalfe said.

The Department claims it will do all it can to minimise the need for and effects of a ‘spill and fill’ process.

“I understand that such a process can be unsettling and concerning to all affected staff,” Metcalfe said, “it is for this reason that voluntary redeployment and retrenchments are to be fully explored before any consideration is given for other processes including 'spill and fill'.”

The Department maintains its hopes that the cuts can be brought about “professionally” in its 4,500 person staff, and that relocation or retraining is actually a new opportunity for workers.

Following departmental attempts to reduce the damage, “we can expect that some people will need to leave," Mr Metcalfe said.