September is here and we all have a spring in our step, particularly Prime Minister Anthony Albanese who could not get out of Ballarat fast enough on Friday.

I was proud to see the audience at the Ballarat Bush Summit dominated by Mallee residents who rightly scoffed and heckled when the Prime Minister spruiked Labor’s reckless railroading of regional communities also known as ‘Rewiring the Nation’.

Premier Jacinta Allan received an even unfriendlier response.  Ms Allan sought to sell her government’s credentials to regional Australia the day after a late-night State Parliamentary sitting rammed legislation to impose $8,000 fines if farmers don’t open their gates to allow the VNI-West transmission line to be built and a $6,000 fine if farmers removes a TCV sign from their own fence

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!

To her credit, Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley told the Summit if a farmer doesn’t want a transmission line on their farm, it should not happen!

It is my honour to stand alongside Mallee farmers outside the Summit protesting the federal and Victorian Labor governments.  

The lack of Labor government investment in Mallee not only places us on deteriorating, dangerous roads – they leave us invisible to ourselves and the rest of the nation, such that I have to go to where the television cameras are and share videos on social media.  I’m on all the social media channels, so look me up and follow for the latest information.

I am also greatly encouraged in my advocacy for Mallee by responses to Mallee’s Biggest Survey, which was sent to every household  but also available on my website at www.annewebster.com.au.   I have received thousands of responses and within shires like yours, I can see specific answers on – for instance – the mining and energy rollout, and opinions on pursuing ‘net zero’.  I’d love to add your survey responses to the mix as I take up the cause for Mallee in Canberra.