Farmers Fight Back in Marnoo

Around 1,000 Victorians gathered in Marnoo on Saturday night for the Farmers Fightback event, headlined by Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce.

Farmers Fightback organised the event as a “FUNdraiser”, with merchandise for sale, live music and food served under the large marquee.

Ben Duxson, founder of the Farmers Fightback movement and Marnoo farmer, said it was a privilege to host the event.

“I’m proud and honoured to be able to stand up here and actually fight for the communities that want to fight back against these governments,” Ben said.

He invited 12 farming families who had received fines after refusing authorised officers access to their properties for VNI West surveys to speak about their experiences.

Among them were Wycheproof sheep and grain farmers Greg and Robyn Roberts, who recounted what happened following a gate visit in November last year.

Greg spoke of the impacts of gate visits by VicGrid to undertake ecological surveys, including being fined for refusing access.

“When a government has to fine its farmers, they’ve admitted that they’re desperate,” Greg said.

Marnoo farmer Billy Baldwin also spoke about being charged after calling police over what he described as a VicGrid liaison officer trespassing on his property. The charges were later dropped.

Billy said the court case had placed significant stress and pressure on his family.
He said farmers would continue opposing the project, regardless of how long it took.

“We’re gonna win this fight, we just need to keep pushing,” he said, to loud cheers and applause from the crowd.

Senator Pauline Hanson was met with loud cheers as she walked onto the stage to Survivor’s Eye of the Tiger.

Hanson said One Nation would advocate for farmers and promote what she described as “common sense” policies.

“I’ve never backed away from a fight and I’m not going to back away now,” she said.

“We’re here for you, the people – that’s who we are, representatives of the people, for the people, for this country.”

Birchip’s Julie Weir attended the event with her husband Leigh and said it was a good opportunity to voice their concerns.

“It was a great catch-up with like-minded people and just an opportunity to say enough is enough and the direction that the country’s going isn’t the right one,” Julie said.

Julie said her involvement with advocacy groups had shown her there was significant support for the movement, making the large turnout unsurprising.

“Everybody that was there is wanting a better place for future generations.”

She said Hanson’s decision to attend the Marnoo event, rather than campaign in Western Australia for the Secret Harbour by-election, was impressive.

“If she wanted glory and glamour, she would’ve been there, but she committed to us farmers, and she came to Marnoo over that.”

Barnaby Joyce, a former Nationals leader who recently joined One Nation, also addressed the crowd and emphasised the importance of standing up to politicians.

“We have to stand up and push back. We have to fight back,” he said.

Joyce reflected on his decision to leave the Nationals after 30 years, describing the change as something that “ripped me apart”.

“It’s just not working. We have to go about our politics in a completely different way.”

Joyce said One Nation, if elected, would launch a Royal Commission into renewable energy projects across Victoria.

He also said “good people have a moral duty to feed the world”.

Victorian One Nation Leader Warren Pickering outlined the party’s opposition to government support for large-scale renewable projects, including developments on prime agricultural land and offshore wind.

He also called for changes to National Electricity Market rules and an end to the Integrated System Plan, Capacity Investment Scheme and net zero target.

“We do not have an energy problem in this state. We have a policy problem,” Pickering said.

“If these so-called green energy renewables cannot sustain themselves in a free market economy without the requirement for government subsidies, they are not a viable alternative.”

If elected, Pickering said One Nation Victoria would remove what he described as $200 million a year in taxpayer subsidies to the renewable energy industry in Victoria.

“You must vote differently to expect differently,” he said.

“We've got the policy platform for these candidates to succeed in Parliament. So get behind One Nation and starting with Victoria, let's take our country back.”

Donna Buxton was announced as the One Nation candidate for Ripon.

The speech pathologist and small business owner, based in Charlton, will contest the seat against sitting Labor MP Martha Haylett, Liberal candidate Megan Read, Nationals candidate Jo Armstrong, Greens candidate Tim Dryly and independent Bernard Quince.

One Nation has Guy Cooper as its candidate for Mildura, which covers much of the Buloke Shire area.

The speeches concluded with a series of stunts, including Hanson hammering a nail into a coffin marked “RIP Net Zero”, before Joyce climbed into a front-end loader and buried the coffin under a pile of dirt.

Hanson also detonated a fake TNT box labelled “Farmers Fightback”, triggering a replica wooden transmission tower to burst into flames.

Outside the marquee, Hanson was questioned by media about her stance on mining, particularly the use of agricultural land for mineral extraction.

“When you’ve got productive agricultural land, it’s the most important thing that we should have,” she said.

When asked whether One Nation would support more mines being built in Victoria, Hanson said: “I’m not making that comment now.”

Julie Weir urged voters to visit politicians’ websites and make their own judgement on party policies.

“Don’t just listen to what the media say, actually get onto a website and read the policies of the party.”

The Marnoo event was part of One Nation’s three-day Victorian tour, which included stops in western Victoria, Melbourne and the Latrobe Valley.

Nationals Member for Mildura Jade Benham said she understood the anger among regional Victorians, who she said felt ignored by the Labor Government.

“They feel ignored by a Labor Government that imposes decisions from Melbourne without listening to the communities expected to carry the consequences,” Benham said.

Benham said the Nationals had committed to stopping VNI West and reviewing Victoria’s entire transmission plan, including the Western Renewables Link and renewable energy zones.

“Projects that do not stack up economically, environmentally or socially will be cancelled,” she said.

Labor was contacted for comment.