The state Coalition's policy on net zero is up for review, says Brad Battin
The Liberal leader's comments come as the Allan government prepares to introduce legislation that could see farmers fined as much as $12,000 for refusing to allow public officials on to their land.
Less than 18 months out from the November 2026 state election, Mr Battin refused to say when he expected to announce the Coalition's energy policy, and would not be drawn on a private member's bill being put forward by Barnaby Joyce to repeal the federal government's net-zero target.
The state opposition's website currently details the policy announced by then opposition leader Matthew Guy ahead of the 2022 election, which included legislating the government's emissions reduction target of 50 per cent by 2030 – something not even Labor had committed to do.
Asked whether that commitment was up for review, Mr Battin said: 'All of our policies from 2022 are up for discussion.'
'The result from the election highlighted the fact that we need to go back and review those, and we'll be reviewing them.
'But the most important thing right at the moment, we're talking about net zero and environment impact, is one of the conditions at the moment the government's trying to force through, where they can go through and bulldoze through private properties, through farmers' properties and communities, to deliver on the infrastructure they're trying to put in place for the net zero they're targeting at the moment.
'We'll have a focus to make sure farmers and communities are protected.'
Victorian Energy Minister Lily D'Ambrosio in June announced that the government would legislate to 'further strengthen VicGrid as the body responsible for the planning and development of Renewable Energy Zones and transmission infrastructure in Victoria', with a bill dubbed the 'National Electricity Victoria Amendment, Stage Two VicGrid Bill'.
Under the legislation, landholders caught 'hindering, obstructing or delaying authorised activity' on their own land face fines of up to $12,210.
Farmers are expected to rally against the proposed legislation outside state parliament next Wednesday, amid concerns it will be used to gain access to properties impacted by the proposed VNI west transmission line in Victoria's northwest.
Opposition energy spokesman David Davis said the new legislation amounted to a 'serious overreach … The government has in a draconian and authoritarian way overreached through the introduction of these planned new penalties'.
'These are new laws, on top of existing powers, that allow the imposition of fines of more than $12,000 for each individual offence and up to $48,000 for corporates,' he said.
'This will give the citycentric Victorian government powers to cut locks, to move farmers and their equipment from their land.'
The new legislation comes after the Allan government last year opted to accelerate the planning approval process for renewable energy projects, in a move that concentrates power in the hands of the planning minister, removing the requirement for applications to go before a planning panel, and blocking third-party appeals to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
Mr Battin said Mr Joyce's private member's bill was 'totally a federal issue'.
'They can do whatever they like up there, but down here, my focus isn't that,' he said, detailing policies related to childcare and crime.
Asked multiple times when the public could expect him to unveil his policy on net zero, Mr Battin refused to commit to a timeline other than to say it would be between now and the November 2026 election. Read related topics: Climate Change Rachel Baxendale Victorian Political Reporter
Rachel Baxendale writes on state and federal politics from The Australian's Melbourne and Victorian press gallery bureaux. During her time working for the paper in the Canberra press gallery she covered the 2016 federal election, the citizenship saga, Barnaby Joyce's resignation as Deputy Prime Minister and the 2018 Liberal leadership spill which saw Scott Morrison replace Malcolm Turnbull as prime minister. Rachel grew up in regional Victoria and began her career in The Australian's Melbourne bureau in 2012. Mining & Energy
Environmental regulators have ordered NSW coal mines to dramatically cut emissions or face penalties, with fears the state will miss its climate targets. Politics
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