JOINT MEDIA RELEASE

Senator Matt Canavan
Leader of The Nationals
Shadow Minister for Trade, Investment and Tourism
Senator for Queensland

Dr Anne Webster MP
Shadow Minister for Regional Health
Shadow Minister for Regional Communications
Federal Member for Mallee

The Nationals to scrap Labor’s net zero agenda and stop VNI West

Friday 22 May 2026

The Nationals will fight to stop the Victoria to NSW Interconnector West (VNI West) by scrapping Labor’s net zero agenda, which has driven the reckless renewables rollout across regional Australia.

Speaking after a Farmers’ Forum in St Arnaud this week, Leader of The Nationals Matt Canavan said farmers and the local community had made clear the disastrous impact Labor’s net zero agenda was having on regional Victoria.

“Labor is destroying prime agricultural land with projects like VNI West, while unbelievably, at the same time, also giving foreign renewable energy investors a 50 per cent capital gains discount until 2030,” Senator Canavan said.

“Without Labor’s net zero agenda driving massive new transmission infrastructure, VNI West is simply not needed. If you scrap Labor’s net zero agenda then the case for VNI West collapses.

“We need an energy system that delivers affordable and reliable power, not billion-dollar transmission projects that benefit multinational renewable developers while regional Australians pay the price.”

Deputy Leader of The Nationals Darren Chester said the Coalition would cease any new financing, refinancing, concessional loans or debt for VNI West and related works.

“The Nationals are listening and delivering on the concerns of local communities and farmers who are sick of being treated with disdain by the Albanese Labor Government,” Mr Chester said.

“Labor’s net zero spending now equals at least $80 billion, which doesn’t even include the massively expensive Capacity Investment Scheme.”

Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster said Mallee has been ground zero for the reckless renewables rollout.

“I have been speaking up for Mallee farmers for years in The Nationals Party Room, in the Coalition Party Room, and in the media about Federal and Victorian Labor’s reckless renewables rollout, backed by draconian state powers,” Dr Webster said.

“I drafted the Prime Agricultural Land Protection Bill – which Matt Canavan kindly tabled in the Senate, and Alison Penfold MP in the House – which declares that The Nationals in Government will not back federal funding for projects that trash our prime ag land.

“I organised this Farmers’ Forum in St Arnaud because it is crucial our leaders hear from farmers about the personal impact of Labor exploiting our regional communities and announce in person that I will not support the VNI West.”

Kanya farmer Marcia McIntyre said farmers felt relieved.

“We are so thankful that The Nationals will scrap the VNI-West transmission line – a huge win for all Victorians,” Ms McIntyre said.

“VNI West and the associated REZ and renewables rollout threatens to destroy swathes of our food producing land, driving up the cost of food and damaging our food security for generations.

“Worse still, this completely unnecessary multi-billion dollar project has already caused extreme emotional stress across farming families and entire communities, while blowing out costs that will lock in forever higher electricity bills for every Victorian household and business.

“Victorians simply cannot afford another unnecessary, poorly managed dud project with extreme cost blowouts.”

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