Ripon farmers turn up heat on renewable project at election forum
Angry farming communities are demanding that candidates commit to scrapping transmission line projects. This is happening before the marginal Ripon election.
Residents packed a forum at Newlyn Recreation Reserve on Sunday. They wanted to confront candidates over the Western Renewables Link and Victoria-NSW Interconnector West.
These projects would run 70-metre towers across western Victoria's farmland. One farmer told the panel: "We've been lied to by state, federal and local government."
Labor minister Martha Haylett did not attend. Her absence drew boos.
Liberal candidate Megan Read said Labor's planning changes stripped farmers' appeal rights. Nationals candidate Jo Armstrong said she would advocate for scrapping the projects.
But Coalition policy was to review them. One Nation candidate Stuart Robinson said scrapping Australia's Net Zero policy would solve the problem.
Ripon is a marginal seat Labor won in 2022. The electorate covers areas west, north and south of Ballarat.
It also covers west of Ararat, and areas north of St Arnaud and Wedderburn.
- 70 metres
- Tower height
- Martha Haylett won in 2022
- Labor election win
Why it mattersRipon is one of Victoria's most closely contested seats. Rural anger over infrastructure projects could shift the vote at the next election.
AustraliaHow Victoria approves major energy infrastructure could determine who governs the state in the coming election, and will affect thousands of farmers in the west.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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