General News
23 October, 2024
Coalition vow to return appeal right
THE State Coalition will restore the right of property owners to appeal approval of renewable energy plans if it wins the 2026 Victorian election. Murray Plains MP and Nationals leader Peter Peter Walsh said the public has been stripped of its...
THE State Coalition will restore the right of property owners to appeal approval of renewable energy plans if it wins the 2026 Victorian election.
Murray Plains MP and Nationals leader Peter Peter Walsh said the public has been stripped of its access to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal by the State Government “so obsessed with its unworkable renewable energy dream” it would not tolerate any democratic opposition.
He said the Coalition was making a stand to put locals first in the transition to renewables.
“For too long, locals haven’t had a voice amid the renewables push from the Allan Labor Government and multi-national corporations, but we will guarantee those affected most by renewable projects in their communities will have rights,” said Mr Walsh.
“This means we will also crackdown on unscrupulous operators, who for their own personal gain want to get rushed approval for projects, only to flip them to buyers unknown to the community,” he said. “Not only are we giving communities a voice, but we are also protecting them.”
Mr Walsh said the Coalition policy was a major breakthrough for regional communities.
“Leaving locals without a voice or an avenue of appeal was un-Australian. “Our proposal restores the balance between the roll-out of renewable energy and the changes to transmission networks,” he said.