The Hon. David Littleproud, The Nationals leader, The Hon. Anne Webster, Federal Member for Mallee, Joint Media Release, 13 June 2023

Dozens of concerned farmers have descended on Canberra, urging Federal Labor to rethink its plan to build hundreds of kilometres of poles and wires through regional Victoria.

The farmers met with The Nationals leader David Littleproud and Federal Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster, who echoed the group’s concerns.

“Labor’s reckless race to 82 per cent renewables by 2030 means 28,000 kilometres of transmission lines will rip up native vegetation and prime agricultural land,” Mr Littleproud said.

“Labor can’t confirm how much land will be required, how much it will cost and who will be affected.

“Common sense needs to prevail. We’ve got sovereignty of all our resources. We don’t need to put in $80 billion dollars of transmission lines – stripping away prime agricultural land and knocking down native bushland in the process.

“The decision to rewire the nation and fast-track the project has been done with little consultation. Farmers in the region are understandably outraged.

“The Nationals believe a Senate enquiry into the transmission lines the Labor Government intends to build is essential, to make sure that renewable projects have the social licence they need to operate in rural communities and that all alternatives are explored.”

Farmer Glenden Watts said farmers in central Victoria were not opposed to renewables.

“In fact, they’re leading the uptake of new technologies to better protect the environment and improve the productivity of our farming land, the food bowl of our nation,” Mr Watts said.

“It’s the deceit, lies and plain disregard of their concerns that has the locals outraged.”

Farmer Bill Baldwin added the changes to the area would be felt by the entire community.

“I am planning on spending the rest of my life farming and living off the land,” Mr Baldwin said.

“If the community that we live in is destroyed by this infrastructure, it will have life changing impacts on our ability to grow food and clothe the world.”

Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster said she was particularly worried about the $3.3 billion Victoria to New South Wales Interconnector West project, connecting to the Western Renewables Link.

“I am deeply concerned for the region and fear Labor is irreversibly ripping up thousands of kilometres of prime farmland and irrigation districts for a project that will have an enormous cost blow-out and detrimental consequences, that’s why I invited these farmers from my Mallee electorate to come to Canberra so they could be seen and heard today,” Dr Webster said.

“The Nationals firmly believe Labor is making a huge mistake. As the Federal Member for Mallee, where most of the destruction to farmland will occur, I urge Labor to reconsider. These transmission lines will be devastating for regional Victoria, farmers and their communities.”