She said it would also ensure activities were consistent with VHM’s legal obligations and conditions imposed by Resources Victoria.
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“This approval is helping ensure that Victoria’s critical minerals can meet the demand created by the renewable energy transition and provide a massive boost to the economy in the Mallee and beyond,” she said
“Critical minerals development in the Wimmera and Mallee could support up to 7000 new jobs in the coming decades, and we are backing local communities with these well-paying jobs.”
Meanwhile, at a federal level, the Coalition has criticised Labor’s deal with the Greens, after changes to environmental laws were passed in the final sitting day of 2025 on Friday.
Member for Mallee Anne Webster said the new arrangements applied the brakes and accelerator in the wrong places.
“The great irony here is that Labor is fast-tracking approval of renewable energy projects on native vegetation and prime agricultural land, supposedly to save the planet,” she said.
Dr Webster said projects the government deemed to be critical – such as transmission lines and new renewable energy projects – would be fast-tracked under the new arrangement.
She said the fast-track would exempt energy projects from environmental restrictions due to ‘national interest’ status under streamlined 30-day assessment pathways.
Nationals Senator Matt Canavan moved an amendment during the debate seeking to impose fines for large solar or wind energy developments that threaten significant impact on the local environment. The amendment did not pass.
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