Vol. 29 No. 7
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Wednesday, August 12, 2026
National champion Mockinya’s Hollianne Hallam will return from Queensland with a national title to add to her resume, having won Agricultural Shows Australia’s junior grain judging competition. Hollianne, 16, has no formal training in judging grain, but has a lifetime of agricultural experience. Story page 5. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
Farmers’ court fight BY COLIN MacGILLIVRAY
W
immera farmers are among a group vowing to launch a legal challenge against State Government-issued fines for refusing VicGrid workers access to their properties.
The government last week issued $814 fines to 12 Victorian farmers for barring VicGrid workers as they attempted to use compulsory access powers to conduct environmental surveys as part of a VNI West transmission line project. A further six landowners reportedly received formal warnings for denying access, including Marnoo farmer Ben Duxson, a founder of advocacy group Farmers Fightback, which opposes the VNI West project.
Mr Duxson said those who had received fines were ‘united together’ and planned to challenge them in court. “We’re getting lawyers involved now, so we’ll go through it and formalise a plan,” he said. “These are going on new property rights rules that haven’t been tested before at all, so this is breaking ground. “We’ll certainly appeal these fines because there were legitimate excuses given by a number of people.” Mr Duxson said the majority of landowners who were issued fines had offered reasons why VicGrid officers were unable to access their properties, either in writing before the officials attempted to access their properties or at the gate on the day of the visit.
“We consider that they were very good excuses for people not wanting to hold up their farming practices. They’ve got a job,” he said. “VicGrid officials were told why they weren’t allowed on at that time.” A VicGrid spokesperson said transmission companies held powers under section 93 of the Electricity Industry Act 2000 to access land to carry out activities required to maintain and plan for transmission infrastructure, including conducting surveys – in line with allowances for other public infrastructure including water, transport and telecommunications. The spokesperson said VicGrid preferred not to use statutory powers to access properties where possible. “Our focus remains on reaching voluntary agreements engaging re-
spectfully with landholders, as we have already done with a number of landholders within the broader project area,” they said. The spokesperson said VicGrid was unable to comment on individual warnings and fines, and the penalties were independently determined by authorised officers and managed by DEECA and Fines Victoria. “VicGrid recognises the decision to issue or withdraw an infringement notice, or not to prosecute it, remains the decision of authorised officers or the prosecution agency,” they said. “Where a landholder reaches a voluntary land access agreement following receipt of an enforcement action, such as an infringement, VicGrid will notify the relevant authorised officer of the landholder’s co-operation.”
Deputy Victorian Nationals leader and Member for Lowan Emma Kealy labelled the fines ‘cruel’ and criticised new Victorian Premier Ben Carroll for allowing them to go ahead. “Ben Carroll had the chance to reset Labor’s relationship with regional Victoria,” she said. “Instead, his first message to farmers is that their work to feed and clothe Victorians isn’t important to Labor. “These farmers are not criminals. They are standing up for their farms, their animals and their property rights. “Fining a farmer for refusing access to a paddock during lambing shows just how out of touch Labor has become with agriculture.”
IN THIS ISSUE • Hanson to visit Marnoo • Police forum focus • Variety Bash on the road • CFA donation Phone: 03 5382 1351 Read it online: www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au
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