PROTESTORS on the steps of Parliament House had a simple message for Premier Jacinta Allan.
As Murray Plains MP Peter Walsh finished his part in debate opposing the Government’s National Electricity (Victoria) Amendment (VicGrid Stage 2 Reform) Bill 2025 can see farmers fined for refusing access to their land, he said:
“I will finish off with a quote from Darryl Kerrigan from The Castle, and I think I am precising for all those demonstrators who have been on the front steps of Parliament. He would say, ‘Tell ’em to get stuffed,’ because that is what they are saying to the Allan government – ‘You can go and get stuffed’ – because they do not want this in their electorates and on their farms.”
Mr Walsh earlier said: “Knowing the history of the Allan Government and major projects, let us just think of a number – 20, 30, 40 billion dollars this is going to cost, and it is going to come out of power users pockets here in Victoria (for VNI West). 
“It is time to go back and have a re-examination of how we connect renewable energy to the grid. 
“Bruce Mountain ... had a plan B where you actually build upgraded transmission lines on existing easements. It is a lot cheaper. It is a lot more sensible. It actually gets more renewable energy into the power grid without the social disruption, without the huge cost. 
“If we are serious about this, let us just say, ‘Have a pause,’ because it has already been put back another two years and it will be put back more than that.
“Let us have a pause and look at how we do this more sensibly, more economically and without disruption to the community and actually deliver for all Victorians.”
The Government has previously rejected Professor Mountain ‘s plan.
During debate in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday, fears were raised that the fine for farmers who own property not as individuals but under a corporate structure would be $40,000.
Meanwhile, AEMO is pushing on with its integrated system plan (it says is “the roadmap for investment in electricity generation, storage, and networks needed to meet both consumer needs and government energy and emissions targets between now and 2050”.
The draft is expected to be released for public comment in December, according to AEMO’s Merryn York.