The coalition in Victoria has promised to scrap the VNI West project
Australia’s Liberal and National parties have pledged to cancel the VNI West power line project if they win the November state election in Victoria. Previously, the Coalition had only stated its intention to suspend construction of the power interconnector between the states of Victoria and New South Wales, according to ABC News Australia.
The planned VNI West corridor runs through the center of the Rippon electoral district in western Victoria. The district is represented by Labor Party MP Martha Gaylett, who holds a 5.98% lead. The project’s cost is estimated to range from 7.6 billion to 11.4 billion Australian dollars.
National Party Deputy Leader Emma Keely stated that after reviewing the data, the Coalition concluded that the project would not be economically viable. According to her, if elected, the Coalition will make a final decision regarding the power transmission infrastructure.
For more breaking news, follow the UA.News Telegram channel.
Jason Barrett, a farmer from Gre-Gre-North whose property lies within the planned corridor, welcomed the Coalition’s change in position. He said he had previously planned to vote for One Nation because he was dissatisfied with the Coalition’s promise to merely suspend construction. Now, he said, voters who have traditionally supported the National Party will once again weigh the proposals of the candidates.
Following the Coalition’s statement, One Nation confirmed its intention to scrap VNI West. One Nation’s leader in Victoria, Warren Pickering, told the ABC that the party had always planned to abandon the project. However, One Nation has not yet announced a candidate for the Ripon district.
Kos Samaras, director of the Redbridge strategic and analytical group, told ABC that One Nation’s support in Ripon exceeded 40 percent. In his view, the party could defeat the incumbent Labor MP, Martha Gaylett. In response, Gaylett highlighted her work to modernize local hospitals, schools, sports clubs, and community facilities.
