General News
26 May, 2026
Nationals take stand against VNI West project as families tell of hardship at forum
Members of the Australian National Party took to the Central Goldfields last week to kick off a set of Mallee Families Forums before declaring their opposition for the Victoria to New South Wales Interconnector West (VNI West) project.
In the hours before attending The Nationals For Regional Victoria conference in Ballarat on Friday, Federal Member for Mallee Anne Webster stopped in Maryborough to host the National’s Families Forum, alongside party leader Matt Canavan, to assist with formation of the party’s families policy.
“We wanted to talk about how [Mallee families] are living their lives,” Dr Webster said.
“We talked about tax, we talked about superannuation, all the things that create pressure on young families to be able to live their lives.”
The panel also heard from Central Goldfields families concerned about the continued closure of The Nest, the shire’s community led facility formed to provide support for local parents and carers.
The Nest closed in April 2025, unable to reopen without continued State Government funding. As a result, concerns have since rippled to the next level of government, with the issue being raised with Dr Webster long before Friday’s event.
That morning, the topic persisted.
“We had one young mum who actually shared her story about The Nest and how she was really confident about having her first child, because The Nest was there. She knew how it operated and the services it provided,” Dr Webster said.
“So, when she was about to give birth, it closed just as Go Goldfields couldn’t get refunded, it is my understanding. I’m gobsmacked the State Government ceased to fund it because it had such a great reputation for social and community programs.”
Dr Webster said she would inquire with the Federal Social Services Minister.
Immediately after, party members were met outside with protesters against the proposed VNI West project, waiting for them to formerly declare their opposition of the project.
Addressing the crowd of Wimmera farmers, The Nationals formally announced their “fight” to stop the VNI West transmission project by “scrapping” the Labor government’s net zero agenda.
“Today follows on from yesterday’s Farmers Forum in St Arnaud, we had over 200 people turn up there ... I have been working with this community across the Mallee, the anti-VNI and renewable energy zone farming groups for a number of years and advocating for them,” Dr Webster said.
“Today, we have announced that we will scrap VNI West and every renewable energy zone from a federal funding stream. From a federal level, we deliver funding to the state, and we will ensure no projects will go ahead on prime agricultural land.”