One Nation Advocates for Coal and Gas, Rejects Renewables at Farmers Rally

In a rally that drew around 1,000 supporters in Marnoo, Victoria, One Nation leaders unveiled a controversial energy policy that emphasizes a shift back to coal and gas, while sidelining renewable energy projects. The event, co-hosted by Farmers Fightback, highlighted growing discontent among farmers regarding the proposed VNI West transmission project.

Warren Pickering, One Nation’s Victorian leader, made a bold promise to dismantle existing renewable energy zones and revoke VicGrid’s powers to acquire land for the contentious transmission line aimed at integrating wind energy into the grid. “We’ll abolish the renewable energy zone that we are on here tonight,” he declared.

In a notable appearance, federal leader Pauline Hanson echoed Pickering’s sentiments, suggesting that the state should explore options for new coal-fired power stations and nuclear energy. Hanson stated, “Put in new coal-fired power stations, you can build those, but also look at nuclear as well.” However, she notably dodged questions about the funding mechanisms for these initiatives, claiming that current renewable sources are failing to provide affordable electricity.

As farmers voiced their frustrations over VNI West, local business owner Simon Schinkel expressed deep concerns about the project’s implications on agricultural land, arguing that urban areas could better utilize solar panels on rooftops instead. The local sentiment was echoed by Buloke Shire Council Mayor Graeme Milne, who praised One Nation for aligning with farmer interests regarding VNI West.

While some attendees, like farmer Cathy Ross, remained skeptical, questioning the coexistence of mining and farming, Pickering assured that any mineral sands mines would be evaluated based on their impact on productive agricultural land.

At the event, One Nation also announced its candidates for the upcoming state election, including Donna Buxton for Ripon. This rally marks a significant moment in the party’s campaign as they look to capture the rural vote against the backdrop of rising tensions around land use and energy policy.

Source: www.abc.net.au