'Scrap the tax': angry firies, farmers shut down CBD
"Scrap the tax," they shouted in unison outside Victoria's parliament on Tuesday as budget papers were being scrutinised inside.
Incensed with the state government's Emergency Services Levy, which replaces the Fire Services Property Levy from July 1 and raise an extra $2.1 billion for emergency services, the fire volunteers and farmers made their positions known.
Dozens of fire trucks lined Spring Street bumper to bumper in a show of numbers outside parliament as protesters waved signs reading, "I fight fires for free. Now I have to pay for that too" and "Farmers aren't cash cows".
The tax was originally projected to lift the average annual bill for residential home owners by $63 and $678 for primary producers, but last-minute changes lowered the rate for primary production land and introduced rebates for CFA and SES volunteers and life members.
Led by the United Firefighters Union secretary Peter Marshall, many protesters rose at the crack of dawn and travelled from across the state to demand the levy be rescinded and a parliamentary inquiry into the policy.
"It is so wrong that the government actually raise a tax in your good name because this is not about you, it's about retiring state debt," Mr Marshall said.
The government had signalled a $600 million surplus in their 2025/26 budget, which the union secretary said was funded solely from the expanded tax.
Farmer and CFA volunteer of 39 years Rob Armstrong said the government's plan was just plugging a hole it had created, warning of more serious protest measures.
"If this government refuses to listen, we will stop the food from leaving the farms," Mr Armstrong told the crowd.
"Meat, vegetables, cereals, grains, a week at first, and if you don't listen, we'll do it again.
"Your food isn't grown in the supermarket. It's grown by us."
Firefighter and union delegate Lachlan Butterfield said the state's fire service is in crisis and needs proper funding.
"All they're doing is using our good name to redistribute funds off so they can use it elsewhere," he said.
CFA volunteer and cattle farmer Lyn Burleigh got up at 5am to make the two-hour train trip into the CBD from Terip Terip in the state's high country.
Ms Burleigh said the levy would devastate her community, impacting sporting clubs and community halls and result in an exodus of farmers who won't be able to sustain their operations.
Opposition Leader Brad Battin says he will ditch the expanded levy if the coalition wins government at the 2026 election.
"We will ensure that we cancel this tax and ensure our volunteers in the SES in the CFA and all other industries are supported," he said.
But Premier Jacinta Allan defended the move, saying the state's emergency services are being asked more and more to go out and protect the community in some of the most difficult conditions.
"They need additional support," she said on Tuesday.
"We've taken that existing levy and expanded it to provide them with that additional support."
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The Advertiser
a day ago
- The Advertiser
'Targeted' fatal stabbing outside servo sparks manhunt
A man has died outside a service station in a suspected targeted stabbing, sparking a manhunt and political slanging match. Local police witnessed the man collapse on the side of the road outside the BP service station in Dandenong, in Melbourne's southeast, around 4.50am on Tuesday. The 39-year-old, who is yet to be identified, was treated by paramedics but died at the scene. Homicide Squad Detective Inspector Dean Thomas said the victim suffered stab wounds, although didn't provide additional information on the injuries. He said it appeared the stabbing might have occurred at a nearby residence on Potter Street before the victim fled on foot. Those behind the attack are believed to have fled down Hemmings Street. "We're still trying to get to the bottom of it and work out exactly what has happened," Det Insp Thomas told reporters. Sections of the service station have been cordoned off with police tape and an SES tent has been set up on the nature strip, where the man's body remains. BP said it was co-operating with authorities and would continue to support their inquiries. The incident comes months after a woman fought off a group of teenagers during an attempted carjacking at the same service station in May. The victim's next of kin had not been spoken to police as of midday on Tuesday. "We still have quite a bit of work to do in that regard," Det Insp Thomas said. Opposition Leader Brad Battin was on his way to work when he heard about the Dandenong death on the radio. The Berwick MP detoured to the crime scene where he spoke to assembled media near where the man's body was laid on the ground. "I went specifically to say the fact that this is out of control," the former police officer later told reporters at parliament. The state government has come under fresh law and order-related pressure after a father was allegedly stabbed 11 times in a home invasion in Kew East on Sunday morning. His wife was forced into a separate room with couple's sleeping children, before intruders allegedly made off with a stolen BMW. Three of the five alleged intruders have been charged, with two still on the run. Victorian Minister Colin Brooks said the government acknowledged the impacts of knife crime were unacceptable. "We're just as concerned about it as every other Victorian," he said. "We've taken tough action in terms of bail laws, machete bans ... police have indicated that area is a priority so we're giving them the resources they need to tackle that." But he slammed Mr Battin's behaviour as "appalling" and called for him to apologise to the slain victim's family. "We're entitled to make political arguments and so is the leader of the opposition ... but that's a real error of judgment," Mr Brooks said. Mr Battin denied trying to get political "mileage" out of the murder and said he had no regrets. Det Insp Thomas would not be drawn on whether it was appropriate for politicians to attend active crime scenes to make statements. "He is entitled to say ... whatever he would like to say," he said. A man has died outside a service station in a suspected targeted stabbing, sparking a manhunt and political slanging match. Local police witnessed the man collapse on the side of the road outside the BP service station in Dandenong, in Melbourne's southeast, around 4.50am on Tuesday. The 39-year-old, who is yet to be identified, was treated by paramedics but died at the scene. Homicide Squad Detective Inspector Dean Thomas said the victim suffered stab wounds, although didn't provide additional information on the injuries. He said it appeared the stabbing might have occurred at a nearby residence on Potter Street before the victim fled on foot. Those behind the attack are believed to have fled down Hemmings Street. "We're still trying to get to the bottom of it and work out exactly what has happened," Det Insp Thomas told reporters. Sections of the service station have been cordoned off with police tape and an SES tent has been set up on the nature strip, where the man's body remains. BP said it was co-operating with authorities and would continue to support their inquiries. The incident comes months after a woman fought off a group of teenagers during an attempted carjacking at the same service station in May. The victim's next of kin had not been spoken to police as of midday on Tuesday. "We still have quite a bit of work to do in that regard," Det Insp Thomas said. Opposition Leader Brad Battin was on his way to work when he heard about the Dandenong death on the radio. The Berwick MP detoured to the crime scene where he spoke to assembled media near where the man's body was laid on the ground. "I went specifically to say the fact that this is out of control," the former police officer later told reporters at parliament. The state government has come under fresh law and order-related pressure after a father was allegedly stabbed 11 times in a home invasion in Kew East on Sunday morning. His wife was forced into a separate room with couple's sleeping children, before intruders allegedly made off with a stolen BMW. Three of the five alleged intruders have been charged, with two still on the run. Victorian Minister Colin Brooks said the government acknowledged the impacts of knife crime were unacceptable. "We're just as concerned about it as every other Victorian," he said. "We've taken tough action in terms of bail laws, machete bans ... police have indicated that area is a priority so we're giving them the resources they need to tackle that." But he slammed Mr Battin's behaviour as "appalling" and called for him to apologise to the slain victim's family. "We're entitled to make political arguments and so is the leader of the opposition ... but that's a real error of judgment," Mr Brooks said. Mr Battin denied trying to get political "mileage" out of the murder and said he had no regrets. Det Insp Thomas would not be drawn on whether it was appropriate for politicians to attend active crime scenes to make statements. "He is entitled to say ... whatever he would like to say," he said. A man has died outside a service station in a suspected targeted stabbing, sparking a manhunt and political slanging match. Local police witnessed the man collapse on the side of the road outside the BP service station in Dandenong, in Melbourne's southeast, around 4.50am on Tuesday. The 39-year-old, who is yet to be identified, was treated by paramedics but died at the scene. Homicide Squad Detective Inspector Dean Thomas said the victim suffered stab wounds, although didn't provide additional information on the injuries. He said it appeared the stabbing might have occurred at a nearby residence on Potter Street before the victim fled on foot. Those behind the attack are believed to have fled down Hemmings Street. "We're still trying to get to the bottom of it and work out exactly what has happened," Det Insp Thomas told reporters. Sections of the service station have been cordoned off with police tape and an SES tent has been set up on the nature strip, where the man's body remains. BP said it was co-operating with authorities and would continue to support their inquiries. The incident comes months after a woman fought off a group of teenagers during an attempted carjacking at the same service station in May. The victim's next of kin had not been spoken to police as of midday on Tuesday. "We still have quite a bit of work to do in that regard," Det Insp Thomas said. Opposition Leader Brad Battin was on his way to work when he heard about the Dandenong death on the radio. The Berwick MP detoured to the crime scene where he spoke to assembled media near where the man's body was laid on the ground. "I went specifically to say the fact that this is out of control," the former police officer later told reporters at parliament. The state government has come under fresh law and order-related pressure after a father was allegedly stabbed 11 times in a home invasion in Kew East on Sunday morning. His wife was forced into a separate room with couple's sleeping children, before intruders allegedly made off with a stolen BMW. Three of the five alleged intruders have been charged, with two still on the run. Victorian Minister Colin Brooks said the government acknowledged the impacts of knife crime were unacceptable. "We're just as concerned about it as every other Victorian," he said. "We've taken tough action in terms of bail laws, machete bans ... police have indicated that area is a priority so we're giving them the resources they need to tackle that." But he slammed Mr Battin's behaviour as "appalling" and called for him to apologise to the slain victim's family. "We're entitled to make political arguments and so is the leader of the opposition ... but that's a real error of judgment," Mr Brooks said. Mr Battin denied trying to get political "mileage" out of the murder and said he had no regrets. Det Insp Thomas would not be drawn on whether it was appropriate for politicians to attend active crime scenes to make statements. "He is entitled to say ... whatever he would like to say," he said. A man has died outside a service station in a suspected targeted stabbing, sparking a manhunt and political slanging match. Local police witnessed the man collapse on the side of the road outside the BP service station in Dandenong, in Melbourne's southeast, around 4.50am on Tuesday. The 39-year-old, who is yet to be identified, was treated by paramedics but died at the scene. Homicide Squad Detective Inspector Dean Thomas said the victim suffered stab wounds, although didn't provide additional information on the injuries. He said it appeared the stabbing might have occurred at a nearby residence on Potter Street before the victim fled on foot. Those behind the attack are believed to have fled down Hemmings Street. "We're still trying to get to the bottom of it and work out exactly what has happened," Det Insp Thomas told reporters. Sections of the service station have been cordoned off with police tape and an SES tent has been set up on the nature strip, where the man's body remains. BP said it was co-operating with authorities and would continue to support their inquiries. The incident comes months after a woman fought off a group of teenagers during an attempted carjacking at the same service station in May. The victim's next of kin had not been spoken to police as of midday on Tuesday. "We still have quite a bit of work to do in that regard," Det Insp Thomas said. Opposition Leader Brad Battin was on his way to work when he heard about the Dandenong death on the radio. The Berwick MP detoured to the crime scene where he spoke to assembled media near where the man's body was laid on the ground. "I went specifically to say the fact that this is out of control," the former police officer later told reporters at parliament. The state government has come under fresh law and order-related pressure after a father was allegedly stabbed 11 times in a home invasion in Kew East on Sunday morning. His wife was forced into a separate room with couple's sleeping children, before intruders allegedly made off with a stolen BMW. Three of the five alleged intruders have been charged, with two still on the run. Victorian Minister Colin Brooks said the government acknowledged the impacts of knife crime were unacceptable. "We're just as concerned about it as every other Victorian," he said. "We've taken tough action in terms of bail laws, machete bans ... police have indicated that area is a priority so we're giving them the resources they need to tackle that." But he slammed Mr Battin's behaviour as "appalling" and called for him to apologise to the slain victim's family. "We're entitled to make political arguments and so is the leader of the opposition ... but that's a real error of judgment," Mr Brooks said. Mr Battin denied trying to get political "mileage" out of the murder and said he had no regrets. Det Insp Thomas would not be drawn on whether it was appropriate for politicians to attend active crime scenes to make statements. "He is entitled to say ... whatever he would like to say," he said.
The Advertiser
7 days ago
- The Advertiser
'That's leader behaviour': Former PM spotted taking on a surprising job
Drivers in a busy Sydney car park were surprised to find an unusual guide for exiting traffic - former prime minister Tony Abbott. Mr Abbott was filmed holding the boom gate of an underground car park open with one hand as he waved cars through with the other. The Pitt Street car park was reportedly battling congestion when the former PM decided to assist. It is unclear when the footage was filmed, but since was shared to the Instagram account Humans of Eastwood Daily, it quickly garnered thousands of likes and comments. "From budgie smuggler to car smuggler, a man of many talents," one person replied. Another said she was impressed, "that's leader behaviour". "He was always a worker. Bushfire CFA volunteer, surf lifesaver, he did a lot more civil service than most pollies," said another. Mr Abbott is well known for jumping in at times of crisis, in a personal capacity, including volunteering with the NSW Rural Fire Service. During the Black Summer bushfires he was seen working to save homes. Despite the good deed, others could not look past the 28th prime minister's other endeavours. "Remember the time he ate an onion," one quipped. Another said it was the "best thing Tony Abbott's done". READ MORE: 'Political folklore': Tony Abbott still has an eye for a good-looking onion Drivers in a busy Sydney car park were surprised to find an unusual guide for exiting traffic - former prime minister Tony Abbott. Mr Abbott was filmed holding the boom gate of an underground car park open with one hand as he waved cars through with the other. The Pitt Street car park was reportedly battling congestion when the former PM decided to assist. It is unclear when the footage was filmed, but since was shared to the Instagram account Humans of Eastwood Daily, it quickly garnered thousands of likes and comments. "From budgie smuggler to car smuggler, a man of many talents," one person replied. Another said she was impressed, "that's leader behaviour". "He was always a worker. Bushfire CFA volunteer, surf lifesaver, he did a lot more civil service than most pollies," said another. Mr Abbott is well known for jumping in at times of crisis, in a personal capacity, including volunteering with the NSW Rural Fire Service. During the Black Summer bushfires he was seen working to save homes. Despite the good deed, others could not look past the 28th prime minister's other endeavours. "Remember the time he ate an onion," one quipped. Another said it was the "best thing Tony Abbott's done". READ MORE: 'Political folklore': Tony Abbott still has an eye for a good-looking onion Drivers in a busy Sydney car park were surprised to find an unusual guide for exiting traffic - former prime minister Tony Abbott. Mr Abbott was filmed holding the boom gate of an underground car park open with one hand as he waved cars through with the other. The Pitt Street car park was reportedly battling congestion when the former PM decided to assist. It is unclear when the footage was filmed, but since was shared to the Instagram account Humans of Eastwood Daily, it quickly garnered thousands of likes and comments. "From budgie smuggler to car smuggler, a man of many talents," one person replied. Another said she was impressed, "that's leader behaviour". "He was always a worker. Bushfire CFA volunteer, surf lifesaver, he did a lot more civil service than most pollies," said another. Mr Abbott is well known for jumping in at times of crisis, in a personal capacity, including volunteering with the NSW Rural Fire Service. During the Black Summer bushfires he was seen working to save homes. Despite the good deed, others could not look past the 28th prime minister's other endeavours. "Remember the time he ate an onion," one quipped. Another said it was the "best thing Tony Abbott's done". READ MORE: 'Political folklore': Tony Abbott still has an eye for a good-looking onion Drivers in a busy Sydney car park were surprised to find an unusual guide for exiting traffic - former prime minister Tony Abbott. Mr Abbott was filmed holding the boom gate of an underground car park open with one hand as he waved cars through with the other. The Pitt Street car park was reportedly battling congestion when the former PM decided to assist. It is unclear when the footage was filmed, but since was shared to the Instagram account Humans of Eastwood Daily, it quickly garnered thousands of likes and comments. "From budgie smuggler to car smuggler, a man of many talents," one person replied. Another said she was impressed, "that's leader behaviour". "He was always a worker. Bushfire CFA volunteer, surf lifesaver, he did a lot more civil service than most pollies," said another. Mr Abbott is well known for jumping in at times of crisis, in a personal capacity, including volunteering with the NSW Rural Fire Service. During the Black Summer bushfires he was seen working to save homes. Despite the good deed, others could not look past the 28th prime minister's other endeavours. "Remember the time he ate an onion," one quipped. Another said it was the "best thing Tony Abbott's done". READ MORE: 'Political folklore': Tony Abbott still has an eye for a good-looking onion
The Australian
04-08-2025
- The Australian
Public servant flight perks slashed in major travel policy shake-up
A review of federal government travel procurement has recommended public servants fly economy class on all services under three hours; not accept cabin upgrades; and declare any 'gifts or benefits' such as Chairman's Lounge access. The Whole of Australian Government review of public service travel policy was flagged by the aviation white paper amid claims Qantas was getting the lion's share of flight bookings — despite existing policy requiring departments to select the cheapest and most practical fare. The review was completed in late 2024, but kept under wraps by Finance Minister Katy Gallagher during a consultation phase. Published without fanfare on the finance department website, the review found the current travel procurement policy had delivered $260m in savings from January 2022 to December 2023. However, it found further savings were possible 'through a reduction of business class use on flights under 3 hours, encouraging simple international bookings to be made online, and applying changes to the air travel booking system that aim to positively increase compliance with the government travel policy. Economy class must be set as the standard class of travel for all travellers, including SES (senior executive service) officers, on flights less than 3 hours in duration on domestic and international flights.' Business class bookings found they accounted for just 4 per cent of domestic travel, but 8 per cent of domestic travel spend. 'For international bookings, business class accounts for 25 per cent of bookings but 45 per cent of spend,' the review said. Public servants will have to justify their choice if they choose a flight with a more expensive ticket price than that available on the day, and the travel policy will be reviewed every two years. The condition that government travellers did not select flights on the basis of airline loyalty programs remained, with public servants allowed to collect status credits but not points. But that privilege could be removed in future, with the review noting 'the suppression of status credits' was an issue to be canvassed with the market. On the topic of upgrades, the review found being upgraded should not be accepted 'unless required for operational reasons'. 'For example — failure to accept the upgrade may impact on business needs — that is being bumped from a flight,' the report said. 'When accepted, upgrades should be declared (and) officials must not accept any upgrade to first class.' Government membership of Qantas's exclusive Chairman's Lounge and Virgin Australia's Beyond Lounge will be more transparent — with the review promising to publish such details for 'key management personnel'. 'This will include information on sectors flown, split by airline, for both domestic and international travel, updated every 6 months,' the report said. Government travellers accounted for 3.3 per cent of Qantas passengers, 1.4 per cent of Virgin Australia customers and 0.2 per cent of Jetstar's passengers. On the high-traffic golden triangle routes between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, Qantas carried the lion's share of public servants and government officials ahead of Virgin Australia. Airlines are considering the report. Virgin Australia's submission to the review claimed there was considerable preference for Qantas and the government was paying too much for fares. Read related topics: Qantas Robyn Ironside Aviation Writer Robyn Ironside is The Australian's aviation writer, and has twice been recognised by the Australasian Aviation Press Club (in 2020 and 2023) as the best aviation journalist. She has been with The Australian since 2018, and covered aviation for News Corp since 2014 after previously reporting on Queensland state politics and crime with The Courier-Mail. Aviation Robert Irwin spearheads a star-studded, five-pronged $130m campaign to lure more visitors to Australia | WATCH Aviation Lobbying inside Qantas is trying to get the new A321XLRs assigned on Perth-Brisbane or Bali routes. Meanwhile, electric aircraft are about 20 years away from joining the Qantas fleet.
