Nationals Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, has moved a motion in Parliament today to condemn the Premier and the Allan Labor Government for their decade of failure in Victoria and their mismanagement of the VNI West project.
The contentious VNI West renewables transmission line project, which proposes to carve through prime agricultural land in Ms Benham’s electorate, has sparked widespread outrage among farmers and regional communities. Ms. Benham highlighted the devastating impact the project will have on Victoria’s agricultural heartland, threatening livelihoods, food production, and the integrity of family farms.
“This government’s mismanagement of the VNI West project demonstrates their complete disregard for regional Victoria,” Ms. Benham stated.
“Ripping up prime agricultural land to pave the way for poorly planned infrastructure is a slap in the face to the communities who feed and sustain this state and export to the whole world.”
Ms. Benham also pointed to broader systemic failures under the current government, including declining regional investment, increasing debt, and a lack of meaningful engagement with rural communities.
“This Labor Government has had ten years to deliver for Victoria, but all they’ve managed is broken promises and poor decisions that have left regional Victoria worse off,” she said.
The Nationals and Ms. Benham remain steadfast in their commitment to protecting regional communities, advocating for sensible renewables infrastructure solutions that do not compromise Victoria’s agricultural future.
