The Allan Labor Government has stripped farmers and landowners of their rights so transmission lines can be built on their properties.
Supported by the Greens, Animal Justice Party and the Cannabis Party, Labor rammed through legislation in Victorian Parliament that gives officials the power to use reasonable force to enter land deemed necessary for the construction of electricity transmission towers across large swathes of the state.
Officials will have the power to remove any obstruction, with authorisation to cut locks and break open gates when undertaking involuntary entry onto properties.
Farmers and landowners who resist face fines of more than $12,000.
The Nationals’ Member for Lowan and Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Emma Kealy, said it was an extraordinary overreach by Labor and a direct attack on property rights.
“Jacinta Allan promised she would be a premier from regional Victoria, for regional Victoria, but all she’s done is slug the state with a massive new emergency services tax, strip farmers and landholders of the right to say no to transmission lines and renewable energy zones, and cut the guts out of Agriculture Victoria’s frontline services and research,” she said.
“At the same time, Labor has cut local health services, abandoned the management and upgrade of major freight routes including the Western, Glenelg, Hamilton and Henty highways, and completely botched the Murray Basin Rail upgrades.
“It takes a lot to get a farmer away from their land, but Premier Allan’s reckless rush to renewables and complete disregard for the agricultural sector means farmers are angrily protesting against Labor’s appalling treatment of the people that grow our food and fibre.”
Ms Kealy said Labor’s rush to renewables was not just removing landholders’ rights and industrialising otherwise pristine land, it was driving up the cost of energy for every Victorian family and business.
“These poles and wires aren’t free, with Labor confirming at least $11 billion dollars will be added to all our power bills over the coming years,” she said.
“There is a place for renewables, but it’s clear that rushing to rely solely on wind and solar is driving up our energy bills, and Victorians are paying the price for Labor’s failure to get the balance right.
“A Nationals and Liberals government we will repeal this legislation, hand back the rights of rural people and give them the respect they deserve.”