The Nationals will cancel the Carroll Labor Government’s VNI West transmission project, delivering certainty to regional farmers and communities who have spent years fighting to protect their land.
VNI West does not stack up, has no social licence in the communities it impacts, and will be cancelled. The Nationals remain committed to reviewing the entire Victorian Transmission Plan and Labor’s renewable energy zones. If further projects don’t stack up, steps will be taken to cancel those as well.
Cancelling VNI West is part of a comprehensive plan from The Nationals and The Liberals to protect farmers, secure energy supply and keep prices low, with promises to:
- Scrap Labor’s compulsory land access and acquisition laws.
- End Labor’s gas ban and open the doors to new conventional gas projects
- Keep coal-fired power stations open until their true end of life
- Cancel the fines slapped on farmers protecting their own land.
- Scrap Labor’s emergency services tax.
- Introduce urban solar parks to encourage solar and battery installations on commercial and industrial rooftops.
Leader of The Nationals Danny O’Brien said the VNI West project had completely marginalised Victorian farmers and disregarded regional Victoria.
“Labor has spent years bulldozing through the concerns of regional communities to force VNI West onto farmers who have been treated with appalling disrespect,” Mr O’Brien said.
“An elected Nationals and Liberal Government will scrap VNI West, repeal Labor’s compulsory acquisition powers, and end the fines Labor has threatened and issued against farmers who just want the right to protect their own private property.”
The Nationals Member for Lowan, Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Deputy Leader of The Nationals, Emma Kealy said The Nationals will always protect farming communities.
“We will cancel VNI West and protect the farms, families and communities across western Victoria that Labor was prepared to sacrifice for its transmission experiment.”
“From St Arnaud to the Wimmera, locals have fought VNI West every step of the way. We’ve listened, and in government, we’ll stop it.”
The Nationals candidate for Ripon, Jo Armstrong, said families around St Arnaud deserved certainty.
“St Arnaud and the farming communities around it have lived under the shadow of this project for years, not knowing if their land would be next,” Ms Armstrong said.
The Nationals Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, said Charlton and Donald had already been through enough uncertainty.
“The threat of VNI West carrying towers through farmland in Charlton and Donald followed them regardless of which electorate they sit in,” Ms Benham said.
“Cancelling this project means our farmers in the north can plan for the future instead of bracing for compulsory acquisition notices.”
The Nationals candidate for Murray Plains, Brett Hosking said the project had been flawed from the start.
“VNI West is a project that has been flawed right from the start, planning, engagement and consultation have been brutal on communities and landholders. I can say this from personal experience as 5.5 km of lines were intended to cut my property in two,” Mr Hosking said.