One Nation MP Sponsors Petition to Sink Sheep Farmer-Led Solar and Battery Project 'They Want to Destroy the Land They Claim to Protect'

One Nation MP Mark Latham has sponsored a petition to block a community-led solar and battery project on the Liverpool Plains, backing a small group of residents who claim the development will destroy prime agricultural land. The petition comes despite the project being driven by local sheep farmers and backed by the broader community.

A community-led solar and battery project on the Liverpool Plains is facing an unlikely opponent: a One Nation MP who has never set foot in the electorate.

Member for Hunter Mark Latham has sponsored a petition to block the 120-megawatt solar and battery storage facility near Breeza, backing a small group of residents who claim the development will destroy prime agricultural land. The petition, which has collected more than 90 signatures, calls on the federal government to halt the project.

The irony is not lost on locals. The project is being led by sheep farmers, some of whom run Merinos on the same land where the solar panels will be installed. They argue the project will actually help preserve the viability of their operations by providing a diversified income stream. The wind farm and solar projects can coexist with sheep grazing, they say, with solar panels designed to allow sheep to graze underneath.

"This is a community-led project that has been developed with input from local farmers," one of the project proponents told The Silicon Review. "The people who live and work on the land are backing it. It's telling that the petition is being pushed by an MP from Sydney who has no connection to this community."

One Nation has a long history of opposing renewable energy projects, often framing them as a threat to food security and agricultural land. Critics argue the party consistently backs a minority of landowners against broader community interests.

The Liverpool Plains project is expected to generate enough electricity to power approximately 50,000 homes and includes a battery storage facility that will help stabilise the grid during peak demand periods. It has received support from the local council and most residents.

Here is the question this petition raises. A community-led renewable energy project, backed by local farmers and the broader community, is being challenged by a Sydney-based MP with no connection to the region. When a politician who represents voters hundreds of kilometres away tries to block a project designed to help farmers stay on the land, who is really protecting the community and who is just playing politics?

As the petition to sink the sheep farmer-led solar and battery project gains attention, The Silicon Review asks a final question. When the people who know the land best are building the energy future, why are the people who never see the land trying to stop them?

FAQ:

Q: What is the solar and battery project on the Liverpool Plains?
A: The 120-megawatt solar and battery storage facility near Breeza is a community-led project that will generate enough electricity to power approximately 50,000 homes and include battery storage for grid stability.

Q: Who is sponsoring the petition to block the solar project?
A: One Nation MP Mark Latham has sponsored a petition to block the project, despite representing the Hunter electorate and having no direct connection to the Liverpool Plains.

Q: Who is behind the Liverpool Plains solar project?
A: Local sheep farmers are leading the project, with solar panels designed to allow continued sheep grazing underneath.

Q: What is One Nation's position on the solar project?
A: One Nation has a long history of opposing renewable energy projects, often framing them as a threat to food security and agricultural land.

Q: Why are local farmers supporting the solar project?
A: Local farmers say the project will provide a diversified income stream and help preserve the viability of their farming operations.