Essay by Eric Worrall
A shouting match reportedly erupted after green entrepreneur Andrew “Twiggy” Forest allegedly suggested to rural MP Llew O’Brien that farmers pushed out by green energy development could find somewhere else to farm.
‘Gutless’: Nationals MP launches into expletive-filled tirade at mining magnate Andrew Forrest as pair become embroiled in fiery row over renewables
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Andrew Clennell Political Editor
February 28, 2024 – 11:00AMNationals MP Llew O’Brien has become embroiled in a shouting match with mining magnate Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest in a meeting at Parliament House on Tuesday, where Mr O’Brien called Mr Forrest a “f***ing charlatan” and a “f***ing snake oil salesman” after the two got into a row over the impact of transmission lines on farms.
The argument over wind farms and transmission lines to create renewable projects descended into a stare-off between the men, according to multiple Nationals sources, including a witness to the stoush.
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When Mr Forrest made comments about how farmers affected could be compensated and find other places to farm, Mr O’Brien blew up, according to sources.
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This isn’t the first time greens have been accused of having a callous attitude to people who get in their way.
According to the BBC, in Africa disregard for the rights of people who get in the way of money making green projects has led to violence and allegations of war crimes.
I hope similar violence doesn’t occur in Australia. I am certainly not accusing Twiggy of wanting to kill anyone or commit war crimes. But seriously: What is the plan if thousands of Aussie farmers in the path of green energy transmission lines or other infrastructure projects simply refuse to move?
What would Aussie farmers do if the government responds to rural refusal to comply, with insensitivity, state backed violence, and mass expropriation? Do they think farmers would sit down and take it quietly?
I don’t know exactly what was said in that meeting. It is possible the whole situation has been wildly exaggerated, sometimes these tales grow in the telling. But you Twiggy had better issue a clarification, and fast. Because if you don’t, you might put a match to the powder keg of discontent which is building in rural Australia, over the Albanese Government’s aggressive disregard for farmers, during their rushed implementation of their poorly planned green energy policies.
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