Tuesday, 11 August 2026

 David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (13:43): (1401) My question is to the Minister for Energy and Resources. Minister, will you rescind the 12 $814 fines issued last week to farmers in Ripon for refusing access to their land, even when Wallaloo East farmer Trent Carter had previously advised the department he was lambing and so entry would be unsuitable on that date?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for Environment, Minister for Climate Action, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (13:43): Mr Davis, thank you for your question. It is not within my remit as the minister for energy to be able to rescind a fine; I think you might appreciate that. But in the event of the fines that you have referred to, I have had some conversations with representatives of people that have received fines, and I am happy to have ongoing conversations with them. There is an approved process in relation to being able to appeal your fine or to demonstrate whether there were exceptional circumstances or perhaps that a fine was issued in error. If you have got any examples, then I am more than happy to have a look at those as I have given others that commitment already.

 David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (13:44): That is sad news that the minister will not rescind those fines, although clearly her department has the power to do so.

Members interjecting.

David DAVIS: Her department does have the power to do so. They are issued on the department’s push. A supplementary here: will the minister stop any further fines being issued under her watch under these extraordinary new laws?

The PRESIDENT: The minister to respond as she sees fit, seeing that this is not under her remit.

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for Environment, Minister for Climate Action, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (13:45): It is an extraordinary position that you think that you make the laws. This Parliament made the laws, and I do not have the capacity to see when they should and should not apply. The fact that you think, as a member of Parliament, that a minister should not apply the law is actually an indictment on you.

Coming back to the issue that you asked about – it is an important issue, and I respect the fact that it is a contentious issue – there are some issues out there that I have been working through. That is different to the way you characterised your question. I actually expected a much more empathetic question from perhaps Mrs McArthur, who has probably dealt with these people. That was who I was expecting a question from, and I think it would have been done in a more appropriate manner.

Back to the question: VicGrid have been working with landholders since August 2023. They will always prioritise voluntary access agreements with landholders, which typically include payments and compensation for that access. It is about working with landholders within the existing legal framework, which I have no intention of saying should not apply. But when it comes to landholders that have received fines, I am happy to have the discussions. I encourage anyone who believes that they have received an infringement notice in error to seek an internal review.