Agricultural land concern top of list at VFF forum

SEVEN candidates vying for election for Indi in the 3 May federal election shared their thoughts and ideologies with a 150-strong audience at North Wangaratta on Monday night. Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) state president Brett Hosking moderated the Indi candidates forum, however, agriculture wasn’t the only topic on the agenda, with people from the audience dictating the course of the forum, which is the only one to take place in Wangaratta ahead of the election. Childcare, aged care and home support services, water, live export of sheep and cattle, the war in Gaza, and election donations were all raised as topics. Candidates in attendance included incumbent and favourite to win the seat, Independent Helen Haines, James Trenery (Liberal), Mitch Bridges (Labor), Mark McFarlane (Independent), Tim Quilty (Libertarians), Athol Thomas (One Nation), and Michael White (Family First). In what was a relatively tame forum there were moments of emotive response from the gallery on the topic of renewable energy. Wangaratta resident Lucy Hayes called on Dr Haines to take a stand to help shut down proposed solar facilities like the one proposed and facing strong local opposition at Meadow Creek. “Lucy, I can’t make promises that I can’t keep - the planning for this belongs to the Victorian state government,” she said, followed by a response of sighs and chatter from the crowd. “I’m a federal member of parliament and I want to be clear that I can’t make a decision on shutting down any application, any project in Victoria…this lies with the Victorian Planning Minister.” Dr Haines noted that there needs to be clear definitions of prime agricultural land and clear 'no go' zones. She later said that the removal of the VCAT appeals process from Victorians regarding renewable energy applications was “a dog act” by the Victorian government. Bobinawarrah resident John Conroy asked candidates whether they support or oppose more solar farms in North East Victoria and also where do they stand on immigration. Mr McFarlane said “how dare they put their junk on our land”, a comment that prompted a round of applause. He listed alternative energy options but was against nuclear as he believed it was dangerous, especially during times of war. “Stop selling coal to China, stop being hypocrites,” he said. Mr McFarlane also called on immigration to be paused for two years and give youth in the country a reason to want to work, with apprentice schemes an option. Mr Trenery said the locations for solar have to be better targeted, away from prime farmland, and he made note of using the roofs in inner city Melbourne rather than looking to North East Victoria to solve the energy shortage problem. Mr White was singing from the same hymn sheet and noted that 20 per cent of power was coming from roof-top solar and rural based solar power was not needed. “There’s plenty of places to put solar panels in Australia where we just don’t need to touch prime farmland,” he said. Mr Thomas noted photos and footage of sheep that had been grazing under solar panels having radiation burns on their ears and nose and being entangled in the panel mechanism as they track the sun. “What we don’t need is a definition of prime farming land, that’s not the solution,” he said. “Any land that is capable of grazing, growing is prime farming land.” Mr Thomas said One Nation has a very strong stance on immigration and it needs to be dropped. “Targeted immigration is fine, it’s not about being anti-immigrants, it’s not about wanting to bring the right people into the country,” he said. “We want people into Australia who value our country, value our beliefs and our way of life and want to contribute to be valuable members of society.” Mr Bridges said it was up to individuals landowners as to whether they want to have solar infrastructure on their land. “In terms of having solar infrastructure in North East Victoria we are really well positioned to benefit from the transition to solar," he said. In terms of immigration Mr Bridges said they can have good jobs in engineering, construction and all supported by fee free TAFE, training people and to bring lots of jobs to the regions. He referred to the migration as “a correction after Covid” and the gaps the government has been filling are with skilled migrants. Real estate agent and local Joe McKenzie made note that solar facilities are devaluing land and the large spaces of arid land should be used ahead of agricultural land. "Some 90 per cent of Australia is non-arable and here we are having a debate about as to whether we have solar farms on farm land, I don't get it," he said. Greens candidate Alysia Regan and Legalise Cannabis candidate Ben Howman did not attend the forum.

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