Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster says the Victorian Labor government has sharpened its sights on Marnoo, Navarre, Beulah, Warracknabeal, Normanville and Quambatook to bear the brunt of the VNI West transmission line, wind turbine and solar panel burden of their energy targets.

Updated Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) mapping released this week now proposes that Mallee host 3 of the state’s 6 REZ, with Coalition-held Gippsland and Nicholls hosting 1 each, and Wannon hosting 2. 

“While this is good news for the Horsham, Robinvale, Charlton, Donald, Wycheproof and Kerang communities that were included in the original 2021 REZ mapping - and earmarked as Tier 1 top priority on page 5 of Labor’s September 2024 plan - I am very concerned that yet again Labor’s railroading of the energy agenda again identifies political targets instead of listening to the community and the science,” Dr Webster said.

“We saw Labor use the same obfuscation and hiding behind ‘health advice’ for decisions the Andrews Government took during the COVID-19 Pandemic, and here again we see regional Victoria kicked to the kerb to achieve political targets.”

Dr Webster noted the new mapping goes out of its way to avoid much of the Labor-held greater Ballarat region and state electorate of Ripon – which were in the original ‘V3’ REZ mapping - and Labor-held Bendigo seats including the Premier’s own, which were in the original ‘V2’ REZ mapping.

“I hate to be cynical, but could this mapping have anything to do with unprecedented huge national swing against Labor in Bendigo - after The Nationals’ brilliant campaign falling painfully short earlier this month - and the November 2026 state election?” Dr Webster asked.

“Having made my concerns clear about Labor’s railroading of farmers and regional communities, there were strong federal election swings to The Nationals in Mallee at Inglewood, Bridgewater, Newbridge, Carisbrook and Talbot which were within the original REZ mapping.”

“I will always take a strong stand fighting for regional communities particularly where locals have not been listened to and where energy cowboys pay lip service to gaining social licence.”

“Victoria’s newest REZ mapping will further embolden the cowboys to crack on with non-disclosure agreements, buying off farmers and pitting neighbour versus neighbour, stirring bad blood where it had never been so before.”

“Victorian Labor’s globally unprecedented ‘renewables only’ approach is not underpinned by gas, coal or nuclear energy. At the geographical scale proposed, the Allan Government is taking yet another reckless policy approach, saddling Victorians with constantly increasing electricity bills.  Worse still, they are now hitting up the same victims of their radical REZ approach with steep hikes to the emergency services levy.”

“Let me also be clear – there is no ‘renewable drought’.  As I said last winter, the dunkelflaute is a well-known phenomenon and cautionary tale on an all-renewables approach.  Farmers are struggling with the early indications of an actual drought in the region, but farmers are used to challenges and take a responsible approach to farming in Australia.  They save and prepare for the lean times with backup – a baseload, if you like, of assets and storages such as fodder - for the lean times.  Labor’s all-renewables approach goes all-in on an energy grid without backup – batteries just won’t cut it. So, spare me the talk of a ‘renewables drought’ – Labor’s only drought is of common sense and giving a damn about regional Australians.”