Later today, the Victorian Legislative Council (Upper House) will begin debating the VicGrid Stage 2 Reform Bill. The vote is on a knife’s edge, and your voice could make all the difference. We need you to call or email a crossbench MLC today using the details at the bottom of this email before debate kicks off, urging them to oppose the Bill in its current form.
Why your voice matters:
- The Bill grants sweeping coercive powers to VicGrid – including forced access to farms, police-backed enforcement, and fines of up to $12,200+ for farmers defending their land.
- It fails to resolve the deep flaws in the planning process for the Western Renewables Link and VNI West, projects already lacking social license and undermining trust among rural communities.
- This isn’t about accelerating the energy transition, it’s about eroding fairness, transparency, and meaningful consultation.
What you can do:
Please act immediately. Use the contact list below to call or email one (or more) crossbench MLCs this morning, before the Upper House debate begins. Be firm, articulate, and timely in defending farmers, transparency, and genuine consultation. A rapid, personalised intervention could be decisive.
What you can say:
- Emphasise that this isn’t about supporting the renewable energy transition, it’s about ensuring the transition is fair, transparent, and respectful of landholders.
- Highlight that the projects have failed due to poor planning and lack of consultation.
- Emphasize that the Bill empowers VicGrid with coercive capabilities instead of fixing systemic planning failures.
- Push MLCs to vote “No” to the bill in its current form and back an urgent reset of the transmission planning process, one that genuinely respects rural and farming communities.
Thanks in advance for helping to amplify our advocacy on this issue. Your VFF team are working hard to secure an outcome for members, and with your support we can hopefully tip the balance.
Crossbench MLCs – Office Contact Details
| MP | Party | Phone | |
| Katherine Copsey MLC | Greens | 03 9530 8399 | [email protected] |
| Anasina Gray-Barberio MLC | Greens | 03 9348 2622 | [email protected] |
| Sarah Mansfield MLC | Greens | 03 5222 1941 | [email protected] |
| Aiv Puglielli MLC | Greens | 03 9850 8600 | [email protected] |
| Georgie Purcell MLC | Animal Justice Party | 03 5427 2444 | [email protected] |
| David Ettershank MLC | Legalise Cannabis | 03 9317 5900 | [email protected] |
| Rachel Payne MLC | Legalise Cannabis | 03 9651 8972 | [email protected] |
| Jeff Bourman MLC | Shooters, Fishers & Farmers | 03 5623 2999 | [email protected] |
| David Limbrick MLC | Libertarian | 03 9584 4013 | [email protected] |
| Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell MLC | One Nation | 03 4700 1787 | [email protected] |