Allan government accused of intimidating farmers with proposed legislation

Angry farmers will take to the streets around Parliament this morning to protest against proposed legislation which will allow electric companies to cut open farm gates and enter private land to build high-voltage power lines.

Wallace farmer Cate Lancashire has told Ross and Russ there is no adequate compensation to make up for the impacts the legislation would have.

“What is compensation worth for generational farmland that loses the capacity to produce food, to with low food kilometres, to send to our city cousins, so that they’ve got food in a supermarket?” she questioned.

Press PLAY to hear how the proposed legislation could impact farmers

Ms Lancashire says farmers will also protest against the fire services levy which will hit them harder than those in the city.

One of the speakers at the protest has told Tom Elliott the legislation is unnecessary.

Marcia McIntyre, a farmer from Kanya, has accused the government of using the legislation to intimidate farmers.

“We’ve already had a good case of, I suppose, how they’ve treated us on the ground already,” she said.

Press PLAY to hear her thoughts on the legislation

Image: Getty Images/Asanka Ratnayake.