The Nationals in government will halt the unpopular VNI West project and bring back community consultation to Victoria’s energy debate.
Nationals Member for Lowan and Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Emma Kealy, said landholders across the state had seen their property rights taken away as the Allan Labor Government aggressively pursued its ideology-driven energy policy over scientific evidence.
“Labor has legislated new laws that allow the steamrolling of renewable energy projects, including harsh fines for landholders refusing access to their own land, compulsory acquisition of land even before planning approvals, and the removal of third-party appeals to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal,” she said.
“Today the Nationals have reaffirmed our commitment to repealing these laws in government and giving farmers their rights back.
“Our plan includes a halt to the VNI West project and a rigorous assessment process for all major transmission projects to ensure they meet community and cost expectations while protecting agricultural prime land.
“It also includes the pausing of the Western Renewables Link (WRL) while the Victorian Transmission Plan is reviewed.”
Ms Kealy said a Nationals and Liberals government would also establish new urban solar parks to generate renewable power closer to where it was needed while considering alternative transmission options, such as the Victorian Energy Policy Centre’s “Plan B” option, to bring costs down.
The Policy Institute of Australia estimates that VNI West and other proposed transmission lines could add $600 per year to Victorians’ power bills.
VNI West was originally supposed to cost $2 billion, but has grown to at least $7.6 billion and could blow out as high as $11 billion.
“Halting VNI West and establishing an urban solar feed-in tariff will minimise land use conflict while saving Victorians significant costs on their energy bills at a time when cost of living is already biting hard,” Ms Kealy said.
“Victorian farmers have been denied a voice in Victoria’s energy transition for far too long.
“Residents have been silenced by Labor’s harsh laws designed to bulldoze through communities and put up costly transmission lines that people do not want for an energy transition Victorians cannot afford.
“Only the Nationals will give farmers their rights back, communities their voices back, and make sure our farmers have a seat at the table for energy policy discussions.
“The Nationals will always stand up for regional Victoria. We live it, we know it, and we will always fight for our communities’ fair share.”