Part 3/9:
Commentators and industry insiders have expressed outrage over the heavy-handed tactics proposed by the government. Cameron Milner, Director of GXO Strategies, described the fines—more than $12,000 for farmers who decline entry—as “extraordinary” and “unacceptable.” Milner argued that private landowners should be engaged in negotiations driven by community consent rather than legislation and penalties. He criticized the corporate entities behind the transmission lines—often foreign-owned—for attempting to bypass community agreement and use legislation as a coercive tool.