TasFarmers, Media Release, 30 June 2025

Landowners along the Tasmanian North West Transmission Development have overwhelmingly rejected a last-minute strategic benefit payment offer made by the Tasmanian Government.

TasFarmers CEO Nathan Calman said the offer delivered at the eleventh hour through TasNetworks broke pre-election commitments made to negotiate in good faith.

“We’ve had concerns for months that the government hasn’t been acting in good faith,” Mr Calman said.

“Now, just before an election, they’ve left landholders feeling forced to accept an offer unilaterally imposed, without proper consultation or process.

Following a landholder meeting in Sheffield, Mr Calman said the message was clear: frustration, disappointment and distrust.

“Farmers are describing this as a breach of trust. Commitments made before the last election have not been honoured. People feel shut out of the process, ignored and the social licence for this project is now at serious risk,” said Mr Calman. 

Mr Calman said that social licence is essential for delivering major infrastructure in rural areas.

“It’s about recognising the people who host these projects as part of the broader opportunity. When it’s done poorly, as we’ve seen in Victoria, projects take decades longer and cost more, both for consumers and landholders.”

TasFarmers also warned against adopting punitive measures seen interstate.

“The last thing we want is a scenario where Tasmanian landholders who lock their gates are fined for simply asserting their frustrations about not being consulted. That approach erodes trust and delays progress,” Mr Calman said.

With a state election approaching, Mr Calman called on all major parties to step up.

“Rather than suppressing debate, candidates should engage directly with those affected. This project, if it proceeds, will shape Tasmania for the next 60 to 100 years. We can’t afford to get it wrong.”

Mr Calman also raised that the election period should not delay the release of the whole-of-state business case for Project Marinus.

“There’s real concern that the business case, which the government committed to publish by 1 July, will be quietly delayed until after the election, shutting down public scrutiny when it matters most.”

“Political convenience must not override transparency or respect for those most impacted, ” Mr Calman said.