Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster MP has celebrated the tabling of the Prime Agricultural Land Protection Bill 2026 – which she authored – with the support of The Nationals in Canberra this week.

New South Wales Member for Lyne, Alison Penfold MP, moved the bill from the backbench as Dr Webster is a member of the outer shadow cabinet.

“I dedicate the Prime Agricultural Land Protection Bill to Mallee’s farmers who have endured horrible treatment under the Allan and Albanese Labor governments,” Dr Webster said.

“I recently visited Pyramid Hill, Sea Lake, Lake Boga, Swan Hill, Nhill, Horsham, Natimuk in my latest 1,500 kilometre trip through Mallee, and everywhere at mobile office meetings Mallee residents asked me – what are we doing to protect our best farming land?  Well – the Prime Agricultural Land Protection Bill is it.”

Dr Webster drafted the Bill based on existing NSW and Queensland farmland protection legislation, which would see the Commonwealth use existing reputable mapping to determine what is prime agricultural land, other farming land, and marginal land.  

The Bill would stop Commonwealth funding supporting any project that diminishes prime agricultural land, which – as some have already observed – would put a significant obstacle in the way of energy projects railroading through Mallee farms.

“I am proud to put forward this policy and will be fighting for it in Canberra as future government policy,” Dr Webster said.

“Our food security, our farmers and regional economies are too important to be thrown under a bus for Labor’s political targets.

“Prime agricultural land doesn’t just happen.  For generations farmers have cultivated, nurtured and preserved that soil, they’ve protected it from erosion, they have put their blood, sweat and tears into the ground that feeds and clothes our nation.  When farmers are forced off their farms, when irrigation is switched off because Labor has eroded water rights, our food security is at risk.  

“During the pandemic, supply chains were shaken to their core and now with a conflict in the Middle East, more supply shocks are sure to occur.  Food security is national security, and The Nationals understand that and are putting it at the top of the agenda in Canberra.”

Queensland Nationals Senator Matt Canavan is due to introduce the Bill in the Senate next week to continue the push to preserve Australia’s best farming land.