Electricity infrastructure
Joe McCRACKEN (Western Victoria) (09:42): I would like to acknowledge the dedication, hard work and perseverance of the team of farmers and rural advocates who tirelessly fought to save prime agricultural land where the government is trying to bulldoze their way through and put communities, people and lives at risk by building a big transmission line. Glenden Watts, Billy Baldwin, Jason Barrett, Cate Langshire, Vicki Johnson, Hayley Plageman and Marcia McIntyre are champions of their communities and have been integral in ensuring the rally yesterday was a roaring success and that country voices are heard loud and clear. The message is a very simple one: do not ignore country people, do not ignore the bush and do not try to destroy country communities and country livelihoods, because country people matter. Communities along the route of the VNI West provide some of the best quality products in the country. Merino wool, grains, legumes and wine are some, but there are many, many others as well. All this is at risk because the government just do not seem to care. The process has been riddled with poor consultation, hopeless engagement and a dismissive attitude. The rally out the front yesterday sent a message loud and clear to the government: start listening, show you care and cancel the VNI West.