Danny O’Brien MP – Driving down energy costs and protecting farmer rights

An elected Liberal and Nationals Government will drive down the cost of the
energy transition by introducing new Urban Solar Parks and pausing major transmission
projects, including VNI West.
A full review of the Victorian Transmission Plan will enable the spiralling cost of new
transmission lines to be put through a rigorous assessment process.
Concurrent with the review, the Liberals and Nationals will establish new Urban Solar Parks
to encourage solar and battery installations on commercial and industrial rooftops in urban
areas, to generate renewable power closer to where it is needed.
Energy experts say this could supply as much as 25 per cent of demand and reduce the
need for as many transmission lines criss-crossing our productive farmland.
Under the plan, VNI West and Western Renewables Link will be paused while the
transmission review is undertaken and alternative options, such as the Victorian Energy
Policy Centre’s “Plan B” option, are properly considered. The review will also consider
Renewable Energy Zones and will ensure sharp cost benefit analysis to guarantee bill payers’
money is not wasted.
The Policy Institute of Australia estimates that VNI West and other proposed transmission
lines could add $600 per year to Victorian’s power bills. VNI West was originally supposed to
cost $2 billion, has grown to at least $7.6 billion and could blow out as high as $11 billion or
more.
The VNI West project has no social licence and Labor has increasingly turned to harsh
legislative changes, such as fines for farmers refusing access to their own land, and
compulsory acquisition of easements even before planning and environment studies have
been undertaken.
The Liberals and Nationals will reverse Labor’s draconian laws to give farmers their rights
back.
Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Minister for Regional Development and Liveability,
Danny O’Brien, said the plan would return land rights to farmers.
“The Labor Government has ridden roughshod over regional communities with its
renewables-at-all-cost energy policy. We will give farmers their rights back while pausing
projects like VNI West and properly examining the alternatives.”
Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, David Davis, said the plan would
deliver renewable energy where it is needed.
“There are countless hectares of available roof space for solar and battery installations
across the warehouses and factories of Melbourne and that is where we need the electricity.
“We will support these developments, which will minimise land use conflict and deliver clean
power where it’s needed though facilitating the designation of Urban Solar Parks driven by
an early expression of interest process, allowing proponents to propose for specific Urban
Solar Parks.
“These changes can save Victorians significant costs on their energy bills at a time when
cost of living is already biting hard”