Business & Rural
22 May, 2026
Nationals say they will stop VNI West following farmers forum in St Arnaud
“VNI West and the associated REZ and renewables rollout threatens to destroy swathes of our food producing land, driving up the cost of food and damaging our food security for generations," Kanya farmer Marcia McIntyre said.
THE Australian National party has said it will fight to stop the controversial transmission line project VNI West following feedback from local farmers at a forum in St Arnaud on Thursday.
Speaking after the forum, Leader of The Nationals Matt Canavan said farmers and the local community had made clear the disastrous impact Labor’s net zero agenda was having on regional Victoria.
“We need an energy system that delivers affordable and reliable power, not billion-dollar transmission projects that benefit multinational renewable developers while regional Australians pay the price," he said.
“Labor is destroying prime agricultural land with projects like VNI West, while unbelievably, at the same time, also giving foreign renewable energy investors a 50 per cent capital gains discount until 2030."
Kanya farmer Marcia McIntyre said farmers felt relieved by the announcement, speaking at a press event in Maryborough on Friday morning.
“We are so thankful that The Nationals will scrap the VNI-West transmission line – a huge win for all Victorians,” Ms McIntyre said.
“VNI West and the associated REZ and renewables rollout threatens to destroy swathes of our food producing land, driving up the cost of food and damaging our food security for generations.
“Worse still, this completely unnecessary multi-billion dollar project has already caused extreme emotional stress across farming families and entire communities, while blowing out costs that will lock in forever higher electricity bills for every Victorian household and business.
“Victorians simply cannot afford another unnecessary, poorly managed dud project with extreme cost blowouts.”
Mallee MP Anne Webster said Mallee has been ground zero for the reckless renewables rollout.
“I have been speaking up for Mallee farmers for years in The Nationals Party Room, in the Coalition Party Room, and in the media about Federal and Victorian Labor’s reckless renewables rollout, backed by draconian state powers,” she said.
“I drafted the Prime Agricultural Land Protection Bill – which Matt Canavan kindly tabled in the Senate, and Alison Penfold MP in the House – which declares that The Nationals in Government will not back federal funding for projects that trash our prime ag land.
“I organised this Farmers’ Forum in St Arnaud because it is crucial our leaders hear from farmers about the personal impact of Labor exploiting our regional communities and announce in person that I will not support the VNI West.”
Read More: St Arnaud