Farmers took to the State Parliament steps in Melbourne to protest a bill entering the Legislative Assembly. Photo: VFF.
Despite public opposition, including a protest rally in Melbourne, amendments to the VicGrid Stage 2 Bill have passed the lower house of the Victorian Parliament.
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If the bill passes the upper house, it would grant VicGrid new powers to continue steamrolling landholders in the way of new renewable energy infrastructure across Victoria, the VFF said.
“The transition to renewables can and should be a win for everyone, but that means doing it right,” VFF president Brett Hosking said.
“The government needs to drop the heavy hand and start partnering. Otherwise, they risk doing lasting damage to rural communities and undermining public confidence in the whole transition.”
The bill is expected to have a second reading in the Legislative Council on Tuesday, August 12.
The Legislative Council agenda says State Member for Eastern Victoria Melina Bath will move to condemn the Victorian Government for the bill.
Tractors carried signs during the protest in Melbourne on Wednesday.
Ms Bath will “note the government’s failure over 10 years to deliver a fair and effective renewable energy transition” and “affirm that energy infrastructure must respect farmers’ rights and rural communities”.
On Wednesday, July 30, Victorian farmers and MPs took to the steps of State Parliament in Melbourne ahead of the vote on ‘sweeping changes’ to the VicGrid Stage 2 Bill on July 31.
Mr Hosking spoke directly to Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and sent a letter to all members of parliament.
“The objectives behind this bill may be right but the execution is fundamentally wrong. This is not how you achieve a just, fair or effective energy transition,” Mr Hosking said in his letter.
“This is how you break trust, delay projects, and make enemies of the very people we need most.”
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