Cleeland slams forced entry powers as Labor pushes through controversial bill

The Nationals’ Member for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland, has condemned new legislation that would allow government officials and transmission companies to enter private farmland without landholder consent. Despite enormous opposition, the National Electricity (Victoria) Amendment (VicGrid Stage 2 Reform) Bill passed the Legislative Assembly this week and will now move to the Legislative Council for debate. Ms Cleeland said the bill represents an extraordinary overreach by the Allan Labor Government, giving VicGrid and authorised officers the power to cut locks, break gates, and forcibly access private land in the name of building transmission infrastructure. “This bill allows energy companies and authorised officers to break onto private farmland without permission,” Ms Cleeland said. “That is a serious intrusion on property rights and a complete breakdown of trust with regional communities. “Farmers are being threatened with fines of up to $12,000 for simply standing their ground. “Companies could face penalties of nearly $49,000 for refusing access. “Even removing a notice from your own fence could get you fined.” Ms Cleeland said her office had been inundated with calls from concerned landholders, particularly in areas like Colbinabbin, Stanhope and Girgarre, where major transmission projects are being proposed without proper consultation. “People are genuinely angry and afraid,” Ms Cleeland said. “They feel their voices are being ignored, their livelihoods dismissed, and their property rights torn up. “This is happening at a time when they are already facing enormous pressure from drought, rising costs, and economic uncertainty.” Ms Cleeland also raised serious concerns about biosecurity, liability, and animal safety if gates are broken or fences compromised, with no clear protections in place for the landholders affected. “We are not against renewable energy or updating the grid,” Ms Cleeland said. “But it has to be done with communities, not to them.” The Nationals have committed to opposing the bill and repealing any laws that infringe on landholders’ rights. They are also calling for greater protections for rural and regional communities, including: • Reinstating the ability for landholders to appeal to VCAT • A mandatory two-kilometre buffer between homes and wind turbines • Real safeguards around community benefit funds to ensure proper legacy investment in host regions • Unlocking low-emissions gas to help keep power bills down during the transition “This is a clear test of how seriously Labor takes the voices of regional Victorians,” Ms Cleeland said. “We will fight to make sure they are heard, respected, and protected.” Victorian households and businesses are also staring down higher power bills, as Labor’s mismanagement drives up the cost of transmission infrastructure. AEMO’s latest report confirms the price of building projects like VNI West is blowing out by billions, and those costs will hit consumers. “Labor’s energy chaos is not only threatening farmers’ property rights - it’s lining up every Victorian to pay the price through higher bills,” Ms Cleeland said. “The government’s rushed legislation shows it’s willing to punish landholders while hiding the real cost of its failed policies.”

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