General News
10 March, 2026
Farm protection bill before parliament
Dr Anne Webster, Member for Mallee, has introduced a bill to protect Australia’s prime agricultural land from development projects that reduce productive farmland.
The Prime Agricultural Land Protection Bill 2026, authored by Dr Webster with support from The Nationals, was moved by Alison Penfold, Member for Lyne.
“I dedicate the Prime Agricultural Land Protection Bill to Mallee’s farmers who have endured horrible treatment under the Allan and Albanese Labor governments,” Dr Webster said.
“I recently visited Pyramid Hill, Sea Lake, Lake Boga, Swan Hill, Nhill, Horsham, and Natimuk in my latest 1500km trip through Mallee, and everywhere at mobile office meetings, Mallee residents asked me, 'What are we doing to protect our best farming land?"
"Well, the Prime Agricultural Land Protection Bill is it.”
Victorian landowners lack the rights afforded to those in other states, including Western Australia.
Farmers facing threats from mining and renewable energy projects in Victoria have united to demand equal rights from the government.
Dr Webster drafted the bill using existing NSW and Queensland farmland protection legislation as a model.
The bill proposes that the Commonwealth use reliable mapping to identify prime, other, and marginal agricultural land.
"In Parliament this week, I dedicated my Prime Agricultural Land Protection Bill to the Wimmera Mallee Environmental & Agricultural Protection Association, the Across Victoria Alliance, Southern Wimmera Renewables Research Association, and the Wallaloo & Gre Gre District Alliance," Dr Webster said.
"Their voices are embedded in this bill, and it seeks to protect their livelihoods.”
"I am proud to back Mallee farmers who produce the food and fibre our nation needs, particularly at a time of immense global uncertainty and likely fuel & fertiliser cost spikes.
"Food security is national security."
Dr Webster stated that the bill would prevent Commonwealth funding for any project that reduces prime agricultural land.
Queensland Nationals senator Matt Canavan is due to introduce the bill in the Senate.