"The Coalition has dealt the Albanese Government a devastating blow, securing older Australians the support they need and deserve," Dr Webster said.

While draconian new powers apply to VNI West to the east of your readership, there are some very important principles in play. First is the fundamental democratic foundation of personal property rights.

My concern is not just that this decision is about prioritising larger, centralised organisations over smaller, local ones, but also that Labor fails to see the needs of people in the regions—and, in my case, the north-west of Victoria.

“Yet again Labor demonstrates that they simply don’t have a focus on regional Australia. Regional people deserve better," Dr Webster said.

How bizarre that the Labor Prime Minister would tell the Ballarat audience that farmers ought to be treated with respect, when Victorian Labor had just legislated to take away their property rights!

I stand with Mallee residents because they are right, they are suffering injustices and are receive zero respect from either Labor Federal or State Governments.

“The morning after Victorian Labor rammed through draconian powers imposing fines of up to $8,000 for farmers refusing to allow TCV on their farms to build VNI West, the Prime Minister had the nerve to tell the Summit farmers deserve respect."

Bendigo, Ballarat and Geelong have bloomed thanks to their proximity to Melbourne and the largesse of a Victorian Labor Government that cynically apportions taxpayer money (well, future debt actually) for political gain.

“The decision to suspend duty-free status for certain shipments is due to the on-going tariff dispute and could have massive economic impacts on Australian businesses," Dr Webster said.