The impact of the VNI West transmission line project on the choice of farmers in Ripon County

The question of the VNI West transmission line route has become a key factor in the political struggle for farmers' votes in the electorate of Ripon. Initially, many local residents, including Farmers Fightback head Ben Duxson and Gre Gre North farmer Jason Barratt, expressed support for the One Nation party. Agricultural producers feared the negative impact of the infrastructure project on the structure of land holdings, which fueled protest sentiment in the western regions of the state.

After the Liberal-National Coalition officially announced its readiness to completely abandon the project, the situation in the electorate changed. Jason Barratt noted that voters now have to re-evaluate their preferences, as an alternative political force sharing their position has emerged. In turn, One Nation leader in Victoria Warren Pickering confirmed that the party had intended to halt the project's construction, but only publicly announced its decision after a similar move by the Coalition.

According to Kos Samaras from the Redbridge analysis group, the rise in One Nation's popularity in Ripon, which exceeded 40 percent, is linked to the feeling among farmers that major parties are ignoring their interests amid an economic downturn. The expert characterized the electorate as the "epicenter" of electoral risks for the incumbent Labor government.

Incumbent Labor MP Martha Haylett, previously appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Victoria, did not comment on the threat to her re-election. Instead, she listed achievements in supporting local hospitals, schools, and sports clubs. At the same time, Ben Duxson, known for his long-standing campaign against VNI West, emphasized that the Coalition's statement would have a direct impact on the results of the upcoming vote.