Bath moves to protect farmland

The Nationals have introduced a landmark private members Bill to state parliament aimed at protecting agricultural land from being permanently lost to poorly considered development.

The Bill was introduced into the upper house by Member for Eastern Victoria Melina Bath after Labor failed to support the bill in the lower house.

The Planning and Environment Amendment (Agricultural Land and Food Security) Bill 2026, created by shadow agriculture minister Emma Kealy would ensure agriculture was recognised as a strategic asset, rather than just another land use in Victoria's planning system.

Victoria produces about 28 per cent of Australia's gross value of agricultural production, with a farm gate value of an estimated $22 billion a year.
Speaking in parliament Ms Bath said agriculture's contribution extended well beyond the farm gate with the sector supporting thousands of jobs across transport and logistics, food processing, manufacturing, agricultural technology, research, science and innovation.
"Agriculture is the economic backbone of regional communities and a driver of investment, employment and prosperity across our state.
"The Labor government's track record shows it has repeatedly failed to consider the impact of urban growth, transmission infrastructure, renewables or extractive industries on Victorian agriculture.
"Farming is not an afterthought or disposable industry – it must be recognised as the powerhouse that delivers us food and fibre security."
It is the latest push from The Nationals to protect farmers, with other policy announcements including commitments to scrapping the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fun levy, reviewing Victoria's transmission plan, tackling farm crime and repealing laws that remove a farmer's right to say no entry on their land.
Ms Bath said the Eastern Victoria electorate had some of the best agricultural land in Victoria, and it shouldn't be sacrificed through poor planning decisions.
"Farmers deserve confidence that the long-term productive capacity of their land will be properly considered before valuable agricultural land is taken out of production.
"Only The Nationals in government will give farmers their fair share and put food security and farming communities at the centre of the state's planning framework," she said.