‘Local’ MPs are appointed to Commonwealth Games probe

FOUR members of Parliament who represent Loddon communities have been appointed to a Legislative Council select committee inquiring into the aborted 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Western Victoria Region MPs Joe McCracken, Sarah Mansfield and Jacinta Ermacora along with Northern Victoria Region member Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell are on the nine-member committee.

Of the five, only Ms Mansfield has visited the Loddon Shire since being elected last November.

Mr McCracken said: ““Ultimately, the community just want to know the truth — that’s all we want to hear.

“Months ago in the state budget, the cost of the Commonwealth Games was $2.6 billion. When (Premier) Daniel Andrews cancelled the games weeks ago, the cost had blown out to over $7bn. How could that possibly happen?” Mr McCracken said.

“The cost of cancelling the games is unknown. I’m very interested to see what the cost to Victorians actually is,” Mr McCracken said.

WEDDERBURN College Year 9 Duke of Edinburgh students canoed the Serpentine Creek at Durham Ox on Monday while exploring the region’s culture. Students had earlier visited Yung Balug Keeping Place at Boort learning about John Hunter Kerr photographic documentation of 19th century Aboriginals in the area and tasted wattle seed pikelets.

This event is something you do not want to miss. Since Ash Wednesday, Dr Rob Gordon has been working extensively in the field of disaster recovery. He has worked with people and communities after floods, cyclones, fires and other events throughout Australia, providing support and insight into the different ways we may find ourselves thinking and feeling as we navigate recovery now and in the future.

START

13

SEPTEMBER, 2023

DINGEE HOTEL

2-4 MACK ST

DINGEE VIC 3571

By CHRIS EARL

FUTURE food security and fire protection would be at risk from a renewable energy transmission line through Loddon farmland, protesters said from the steps of State Parliament on Tuesday.

More than 300 farmers took their voices to Melbourne for the lunchtime rally against the VNI West and Western Renewables Link projects.

Farmers said their anger was driven by the State Government not listening and rejecting calls for the agricultural sector to receive a fair go.

Organiser Glenden Watts told protesters, many arriving in Melbourne on Monday night from Loddon communities, that both Premier Daniel Andrews and Energy Minister Lily d’Ambrosio had refused invitations to speak at the rally.

He led the rising voice of rural Victoria in chanting their names and then an extended version: “Dan, Dan, he’s our man. If he can’t fix it, no one can.”

Mr Watts had earlier spoken at a media conference with federal Nationals leader David Littleproud before the starter’s flag was waved on a convoy of more than 50 tractors plus trucks, including one from Nelson Farms in Boort, that circled Parliament House for more than an hour.

Mr Littleproud said Labor’s race to achieve 82 per cent renewables by 2030 was reckless and would have huge consequences on the agriculture sector.

He said he previously asked Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for a National Energy Summit, to put all options on the table, but the best the Government could do was a small inquiry into how to consult better.

“The Nationals have also been attempting to get a Senate Inquiry into renewables and transmission lines but crossbench senators have been blocking it,” Mr Littleproud said.

“We are not against renewables, but Labor is threatening to take away the tools our farmers need to provide Australians with fresh, healthy and affordable food.

“Farmers are becoming increasingly anxious about the situation – which is why they have come to Parliament House to plead with the State Labor Government.”

Mr Watts said the Australian Energy Market Operator was not welcome along the route that would run from Bulgana, near Stawell, between Charlton and Wedderburn and through Boort to Kerang.

“The gates will be shut. They are not welcome,” he said.

Mr Watts and Victorian Nationals MPs used the rally to back a Plan B released earlier this month by the Victorian Energy Policy Centre that co-author Professor Bruce Mountain said would save $5 billion by upgrading existing transmission lines and easements without the need for projects like VNI West.

Victorian Farmers’ Federation president Emma Germano said the State Government had got its renewable energy transition policy wrong.

But she said it was not too late to stop and “get it right”.

“We will help you get the plan right,” she said. “Farmers here are ready to help.”

As volunteer firefighters flung their yellow overalls onto the steps of Parliament House concerned that fire risk will increase with new transmission lines and access to fight fires hampered, Western Victoria Region MP Joe McCracken said: “The Government needs to hear your voices.”

Mr McCracken said he had come out of Parliament after asking questions of Ms d’Ambrosio on the transmission line projects, only to be told it was “someone else’s department”. He also questioned the absence of Ripon MP Martha Haylett from the protest that saw Coalition members join farmers and landowners.

“These guys don’t care ... Labor doesn’t care. They made a political calculation ... your votes don’t matter,” he said. “Anger is burning in the bush.”

Mr Littleproud said the federal Nationals would try every Tuesday to have the Senate com- mence an an inquiry on renewable energy transmission. “It will be transmission Tuesday in the Senate.”

Protest speakers warned of increased food prices if projects including VNI West proceeded, compromising livelihoods of farmers and the biosecurity and productivity of their land,

Mr Watts said Tuesday’s protest was about farmers making a stand for a fair go.

He said it was time for the Government to take a step back and look at options other than VNI West.

“These transmission towers and lines would carve a destructive 100-metre wide easement through highly productive farms in Victoria’s food bowls,” he said.

Mr Littleproud told a media conference that Tuesday’s rally was the start of a national movement and again called for a national conversation as he criticised the haste of the Federal and Victorian Governments in rolling out renewable energy transition policies.

Farmers said anger had made them drive long distances to Melbourne for the rally. Many of the tractors that travelled in convey came from the St Arnaud and Ballan districts, their journey into Melbourne followed by a police helicopter hovering overhead.

Mr Watts said opposition to VNI West was about protecting future generations of farmers. Government had to listen, he said.