Hundreds of farmers at Marnoo today are telling the Victorian Labor Government they do not want VNI West, they do not want WRL and they don’t want their farmland made into renewable infrastructure,” said Dr Anne Webster MP, Member for Mallee and Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Local Government, Territories and Regional Communications.
“We do not need Mallee turned into an industrial wasteland. It is no good for our food security, and Senator McKenzie and I, The Nationals, stand with the farmers of this region.
“I give so much credit to Mallee farmers for having the courage to stand. It’s been really, really tough and been going on for some time now. I encourage them to keep at it.
“VNI West, WRL and the REZ are being driven by an ideology from Energy Minister, Chris Bowen, and Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, which forces the states to fall into line with federal renewable energy targets. These projects are being supported from federal coffers.”
Senator Bridget McKenzie, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Leader of The Nationals in the Senate:
“We have heard from hundreds of impacted farmers and their families about this renewable energy zone, the industrialisation of the most productive food and fibre communities in our state.
“The Labor government is fixated on trashing the private property rights of these farmers, which is so appalling, they have been loud and proud, and they need to stay strong against a government that doesn’t respect them.
“Community after community has to stand up and say no to these projects being built because it has significant environmental, social and economic impact.
“Back in the day, we used to hear about triple bottom line – something had to be good for the environment, good for the economy and good for society.
“These projects are impacting the mental health and social cohesion of these communities, trashing the environment, some very significant environmental sites are going to be impacted by the rollout of these projects.
This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 22 August 2025.
