Tuesday, 2 December 2025

 Peter WALSH (Murray Plains) (13:58): Australian Council of Trade Unions Secretary Sally McManus has said she does not see a problem with workers breaking laws where the laws are unjust. The laws that the Allan Labor government have inflicted on farmers, a right to entry to their farms by VicGrid and the fines to be imposed if they do not allow entry, are unjust, and I do not see a problem with farmers breaking those laws to protect their rights. In fact I commend those farmers and their neighbours for actually standing up for each other against these draconian laws. These laws were introduced because the Labor government made such an abysmal job of consulting these farmers about VNI West. Compulsory acquisition of these farmers’ land again is unjust. The Allan government has treated these farmers with total disregard for their human rights. The Victorian Farmers Federation now has 6000 signatures on its petition to protect farmland in Victoria, particularly from the Labor government who have little or no regard for private property, country people or farmers – we are just there to be used and taxed to fund Labor’s debt from cost blowouts on Melbourne infrastructure. What is happening is unjust and needs to be called out. If it is good enough for the union movement to support breaking unjust laws, it is good enough for country people to break those laws.

Business interrupted under sessional orders.

The SPEAKER: I acknowledge in the gallery the Honourable Mick de Brenni, member for Springwood in the Queensland Parliament.