'Locals blame us': rural SES volunteers 'hated' over emergency services levy

The Advertiser

3 days ago

Some State Emergency Service volunteers in regional Victoria say they are "hated" by many locals for the organisation's role in the government's Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy.
The volunteers said rural residents, especially farmers, blamed VICSES for the divisive new levy even though many rural VICSES members were strongly against the measure.
VICSES has advocated strongly for the new levy and appears on track to benefit from the $2.9 billion in extra revenue to be collected over the next four years.
But many rural VICSES members said they were sceptical the funds would reach their underfunded units and were "appalled" country residents were footing so much of the bill.
"It's a bloody disgrace," one northern Victorian member said.
One south-west unit controller said "we are very unpopular out here in the country".
"We are hunted people now. I don't know how we are going to recruit," the controller said.
A VICSES spokesperson said the organisation had "no role in the development or the specifics of the Emergency Services Volunteer Fund".
"How specifically VICSES and the emergency services sector is funded is a matter for the state government," the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said VICSES and its volunteers had been advocating for "greater support" from the government, but denied a role in the levy.
"The suggestion that VICSES helped shape the levy is strongly rejected," the spokesperson said.
But VICSES has long advocated for a new or expanded levy to bring it similar funding to the Country Fire Authority and reduce its heavy reliance on fundraising.
VICSES executives and paid staff aren't allowed to lobby the government for money because they are Victorian government employees.
But a group of volunteers had led a "Fund VICSES" campaign to specifically lobby for a levy to fund the organisation.
The vision for a broader levy is explained on the Fund VICSES website.
"This could be done by extending the existing Fire Services Levy to an Emergency Services Levy, or could be done separately. It would be collected alongside existing property rates by local councils," the campaign's FAQ said.
The leader of the campaign - Footscray unit controller Michael Bagnall - spoke to the ABC to endorse the levy on May 15, 2025, the day it was voted through.
"Members of Victoria's State Emergency Service hope a bill to boost their funding will be passed by the state parliament today," the article read.
Many volunteers told ACM - publisher of this masthead - they were furious to see one person seeming to speak for all volunteers on such a divisive issue.
"That bloke doesn't speak for me, I'll tell you that much," one northern Victorian volunteer said.
Mr Bagnall told ACM he hadn't claimed to speak on behalf of all VICSES volunteers.
"I understand there are a range of perspectives on the levy itself," he said.
"Not all will feel the same impact from this levy and the views of those impacted, most need to be fully respected."
But while Mr Bagnall was able to speak publicly in support of the levy, other volunteers told ACM they were ordered to stay quiet.
Dozens of CFA brigades started going offline in protest as the levy was passed on May 15.
But when VICSES units tried to do the same, they were told they "weren't allowed" by senior operations.
A Melbourne-based volunteer said members had been "ordered to stay neutral" on the topic of the levy and not to comment publicly about it.
Dozens of volunteers took to the closed VICSES Facebook page to express frustration at having to remain "apolitical".
These volunteers all agreed VICSES desperately needed more funding, but said the levy would "cripple many who are already struggling".
"SES are somewhat conflicted as we badly need the funding," one volunteer wrote.
"However, I'm not supportive of the other changes to the levy, such as shifting the cost burden from general revenue to the levy and disproportionately being paid by regional Victoria."
A VICSES spokesperson denied any order or request for volunteers to remain apolitical.
"VICSES members are permitted to respectfully advocate for their needs," the spokesperson said.
"VICSES acknowledges the growing pressures on rural communities, especially emergency services volunteers in those communities, where drought is having a profound impact on their livelihoods."
But an internal message to all members from VICSES chief executive Rob Purcell on Friday May 16 specifically asked them to stay out of the debate.
"I understand there are a range of passionate views on this topic and people have their personal political beliefs as well. I ask and remind us all to remain respectful [and] apolitical whilst representing VICSES and act in line with our VICSES values at all times," it said.
There were also volunteers on the VICSES Facebook page who argued strongly for the levy and said the furore would blow over.
"My advice is to keep calm. Wait three weeks and the news media will have moved on," one volunteer said.
One rural volunteer told ACM this was the same advice he'd been given when he told VICSES senior staff about the hostility he'd experienced from locals since the levy passed.
"They just said 'oh you know, we expected some push back from the regions, but they'll back down and it'll all happen come July'," the volunteer said.
But the volunteer said he wasn't so sure.
"It's really widened that gap between the city and the country. All those Melbourne members pushing for this levy when they knew it would be toxic," he said.
"And it's the volunteers out here who get blamed. Well, we've had a gutful of this stuff.
"You're not going to get new members to come if no one's happy."
Some State Emergency Service volunteers in regional Victoria say they are "hated" by many locals for the organisation's role in the government's Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy.
The volunteers said rural residents, especially farmers, blamed VICSES for the divisive new levy even though many rural VICSES members were strongly against the measure.
VICSES has advocated strongly for the new levy and appears on track to benefit from the $2.9 billion in extra revenue to be collected over the next four years.
But many rural VICSES members said they were sceptical the funds would reach their underfunded units and were "appalled" country residents were footing so much of the bill.
"It's a bloody disgrace," one northern Victorian member said.
One south-west unit controller said "we are very unpopular out here in the country".
"We are hunted people now. I don't know how we are going to recruit," the controller said.
A VICSES spokesperson said the organisation had "no role in the development or the specifics of the Emergency Services Volunteer Fund".
"How specifically VICSES and the emergency services sector is funded is a matter for the state government," the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said VICSES and its volunteers had been advocating for "greater support" from the government, but denied a role in the levy.
"The suggestion that VICSES helped shape the levy is strongly rejected," the spokesperson said.
But VICSES has long advocated for a new or expanded levy to bring it similar funding to the Country Fire Authority and reduce its heavy reliance on fundraising.
VICSES executives and paid staff aren't allowed to lobby the government for money because they are Victorian government employees.
But a group of volunteers had led a "Fund VICSES" campaign to specifically lobby for a levy to fund the organisation.
The vision for a broader levy is explained on the Fund VICSES website.
"This could be done by extending the existing Fire Services Levy to an Emergency Services Levy, or could be done separately. It would be collected alongside existing property rates by local councils," the campaign's FAQ said.
The leader of the campaign - Footscray unit controller Michael Bagnall - spoke to the ABC to endorse the levy on May 15, 2025, the day it was voted through.
"Members of Victoria's State Emergency Service hope a bill to boost their funding will be passed by the state parliament today," the article read.
Many volunteers told ACM - publisher of this masthead - they were furious to see one person seeming to speak for all volunteers on such a divisive issue.
"That bloke doesn't speak for me, I'll tell you that much," one northern Victorian volunteer said.
Mr Bagnall told ACM he hadn't claimed to speak on behalf of all VICSES volunteers.
"I understand there are a range of perspectives on the levy itself," he said.
"Not all will feel the same impact from this levy and the views of those impacted, most need to be fully respected."
But while Mr Bagnall was able to speak publicly in support of the levy, other volunteers told ACM they were ordered to stay quiet.
Dozens of CFA brigades started going offline in protest as the levy was passed on May 15.
But when VICSES units tried to do the same, they were told they "weren't allowed" by senior operations.
A Melbourne-based volunteer said members had been "ordered to stay neutral" on the topic of the levy and not to comment publicly about it.
Dozens of volunteers took to the closed VICSES Facebook page to express frustration at having to remain "apolitical".
These volunteers all agreed VICSES desperately needed more funding, but said the levy would "cripple many who are already struggling".
"SES are somewhat conflicted as we badly need the funding," one volunteer wrote.
"However, I'm not supportive of the other changes to the levy, such as shifting the cost burden from general revenue to the levy and disproportionately being paid by regional Victoria."
A VICSES spokesperson denied any order or request for volunteers to remain apolitical.
"VICSES members are permitted to respectfully advocate for their needs," the spokesperson said.
"VICSES acknowledges the growing pressures on rural communities, especially emergency services volunteers in those communities, where drought is having a profound impact on their livelihoods."
But an internal message to all members from VICSES chief executive Rob Purcell on Friday May 16 specifically asked them to stay out of the debate.
"I understand there are a range of passionate views on this topic and people have their personal political beliefs as well. I ask and remind us all to remain respectful [and] apolitical whilst representing VICSES and act in line with our VICSES values at all times," it said.
There were also volunteers on the VICSES Facebook page who argued strongly for the levy and said the furore would blow over.
"My advice is to keep calm. Wait three weeks and the news media will have moved on," one volunteer said.
One rural volunteer told ACM this was the same advice he'd been given when he told VICSES senior staff about the hostility he'd experienced from locals since the levy passed.
"They just said 'oh you know, we expected some push back from the regions, but they'll back down and it'll all happen come July'," the volunteer said.
But the volunteer said he wasn't so sure.
"It's really widened that gap between the city and the country. All those Melbourne members pushing for this levy when they knew it would be toxic," he said.
"And it's the volunteers out here who get blamed. Well, we've had a gutful of this stuff.
"You're not going to get new members to come if no one's happy."
Some State Emergency Service volunteers in regional Victoria say they are "hated" by many locals for the organisation's role in the government's Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy.
The volunteers said rural residents, especially farmers, blamed VICSES for the divisive new levy even though many rural VICSES members were strongly against the measure.
VICSES has advocated strongly for the new levy and appears on track to benefit from the $2.9 billion in extra revenue to be collected over the next four years.
But many rural VICSES members said they were sceptical the funds would reach their underfunded units and were "appalled" country residents were footing so much of the bill.
"It's a bloody disgrace," one northern Victorian member said.
One south-west unit controller said "we are very unpopular out here in the country".
"We are hunted people now. I don't know how we are going to recruit," the controller said.
A VICSES spokesperson said the organisation had "no role in the development or the specifics of the Emergency Services Volunteer Fund".
"How specifically VICSES and the emergency services sector is funded is a matter for the state government," the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said VICSES and its volunteers had been advocating for "greater support" from the government, but denied a role in the levy.
"The suggestion that VICSES helped shape the levy is strongly rejected," the spokesperson said.
But VICSES has long advocated for a new or expanded levy to bring it similar funding to the Country Fire Authority and reduce its heavy reliance on fundraising.
VICSES executives and paid staff aren't allowed to lobby the government for money because they are Victorian government employees.
But a group of volunteers had led a "Fund VICSES" campaign to specifically lobby for a levy to fund the organisation.
The vision for a broader levy is explained on the Fund VICSES website.
"This could be done by extending the existing Fire Services Levy to an Emergency Services Levy, or could be done separately. It would be collected alongside existing property rates by local councils," the campaign's FAQ said.
The leader of the campaign - Footscray unit controller Michael Bagnall - spoke to the ABC to endorse the levy on May 15, 2025, the day it was voted through.
"Members of Victoria's State Emergency Service hope a bill to boost their funding will be passed by the state parliament today," the article read.
Many volunteers told ACM - publisher of this masthead - they were furious to see one person seeming to speak for all volunteers on such a divisive issue.
"That bloke doesn't speak for me, I'll tell you that much," one northern Victorian volunteer said.
Mr Bagnall told ACM he hadn't claimed to speak on behalf of all VICSES volunteers.
"I understand there are a range of perspectives on the levy itself," he said.
"Not all will feel the same impact from this levy and the views of those impacted, most need to be fully respected."
But while Mr Bagnall was able to speak publicly in support of the levy, other volunteers told ACM they were ordered to stay quiet.
Dozens of CFA brigades started going offline in protest as the levy was passed on May 15.
But when VICSES units tried to do the same, they were told they "weren't allowed" by senior operations.
A Melbourne-based volunteer said members had been "ordered to stay neutral" on the topic of the levy and not to comment publicly about it.
Dozens of volunteers took to the closed VICSES Facebook page to express frustration at having to remain "apolitical".
These volunteers all agreed VICSES desperately needed more funding, but said the levy would "cripple many who are already struggling".
"SES are somewhat conflicted as we badly need the funding," one volunteer wrote.
"However, I'm not supportive of the other changes to the levy, such as shifting the cost burden from general revenue to the levy and disproportionately being paid by regional Victoria."
A VICSES spokesperson denied any order or request for volunteers to remain apolitical.
"VICSES members are permitted to respectfully advocate for their needs," the spokesperson said.
"VICSES acknowledges the growing pressures on rural communities, especially emergency services volunteers in those communities, where drought is having a profound impact on their livelihoods."
But an internal message to all members from VICSES chief executive Rob Purcell on Friday May 16 specifically asked them to stay out of the debate.
"I understand there are a range of passionate views on this topic and people have their personal political beliefs as well. I ask and remind us all to remain respectful [and] apolitical whilst representing VICSES and act in line with our VICSES values at all times," it said.
There were also volunteers on the VICSES Facebook page who argued strongly for the levy and said the furore would blow over.
"My advice is to keep calm. Wait three weeks and the news media will have moved on," one volunteer said.
One rural volunteer told ACM this was the same advice he'd been given when he told VICSES senior staff about the hostility he'd experienced from locals since the levy passed.
"They just said 'oh you know, we expected some push back from the regions, but they'll back down and it'll all happen come July'," the volunteer said.
But the volunteer said he wasn't so sure.
"It's really widened that gap between the city and the country. All those Melbourne members pushing for this levy when they knew it would be toxic," he said.
"And it's the volunteers out here who get blamed. Well, we've had a gutful of this stuff.
"You're not going to get new members to come if no one's happy."
Some State Emergency Service volunteers in regional Victoria say they are "hated" by many locals for the organisation's role in the government's Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy.
The volunteers said rural residents, especially farmers, blamed VICSES for the divisive new levy even though many rural VICSES members were strongly against the measure.
VICSES has advocated strongly for the new levy and appears on track to benefit from the $2.9 billion in extra revenue to be collected over the next four years.
But many rural VICSES members said they were sceptical the funds would reach their underfunded units and were "appalled" country residents were footing so much of the bill.
"It's a bloody disgrace," one northern Victorian member said.
One south-west unit controller said "we are very unpopular out here in the country".
"We are hunted people now. I don't know how we are going to recruit," the controller said.
A VICSES spokesperson said the organisation had "no role in the development or the specifics of the Emergency Services Volunteer Fund".
"How specifically VICSES and the emergency services sector is funded is a matter for the state government," the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said VICSES and its volunteers had been advocating for "greater support" from the government, but denied a role in the levy.
"The suggestion that VICSES helped shape the levy is strongly rejected," the spokesperson said.
But VICSES has long advocated for a new or expanded levy to bring it similar funding to the Country Fire Authority and reduce its heavy reliance on fundraising.
VICSES executives and paid staff aren't allowed to lobby the government for money because they are Victorian government employees.
But a group of volunteers had led a "Fund VICSES" campaign to specifically lobby for a levy to fund the organisation.
The vision for a broader levy is explained on the Fund VICSES website.
"This could be done by extending the existing Fire Services Levy to an Emergency Services Levy, or could be done separately. It would be collected alongside existing property rates by local councils," the campaign's FAQ said.
The leader of the campaign - Footscray unit controller Michael Bagnall - spoke to the ABC to endorse the levy on May 15, 2025, the day it was voted through.
"Members of Victoria's State Emergency Service hope a bill to boost their funding will be passed by the state parliament today," the article read.
Many volunteers told ACM - publisher of this masthead - they were furious to see one person seeming to speak for all volunteers on such a divisive issue.
"That bloke doesn't speak for me, I'll tell you that much," one northern Victorian volunteer said.
Mr Bagnall told ACM he hadn't claimed to speak on behalf of all VICSES volunteers.
"I understand there are a range of perspectives on the levy itself," he said.
"Not all will feel the same impact from this levy and the views of those impacted, most need to be fully respected."
But while Mr Bagnall was able to speak publicly in support of the levy, other volunteers told ACM they were ordered to stay quiet.
Dozens of CFA brigades started going offline in protest as the levy was passed on May 15.
But when VICSES units tried to do the same, they were told they "weren't allowed" by senior operations.
A Melbourne-based volunteer said members had been "ordered to stay neutral" on the topic of the levy and not to comment publicly about it.
Dozens of volunteers took to the closed VICSES Facebook page to express frustration at having to remain "apolitical".
These volunteers all agreed VICSES desperately needed more funding, but said the levy would "cripple many who are already struggling".
"SES are somewhat conflicted as we badly need the funding," one volunteer wrote.
"However, I'm not supportive of the other changes to the levy, such as shifting the cost burden from general revenue to the levy and disproportionately being paid by regional Victoria."
A VICSES spokesperson denied any order or request for volunteers to remain apolitical.
"VICSES members are permitted to respectfully advocate for their needs," the spokesperson said.
"VICSES acknowledges the growing pressures on rural communities, especially emergency services volunteers in those communities, where drought is having a profound impact on their livelihoods."
But an internal message to all members from VICSES chief executive Rob Purcell on Friday May 16 specifically asked them to stay out of the debate.
"I understand there are a range of passionate views on this topic and people have their personal political beliefs as well. I ask and remind us all to remain respectful [and] apolitical whilst representing VICSES and act in line with our VICSES values at all times," it said.
There were also volunteers on the VICSES Facebook page who argued strongly for the levy and said the furore would blow over.
"My advice is to keep calm. Wait three weeks and the news media will have moved on," one volunteer said.
One rural volunteer told ACM this was the same advice he'd been given when he told VICSES senior staff about the hostility he'd experienced from locals since the levy passed.
"They just said 'oh you know, we expected some push back from the regions, but they'll back down and it'll all happen come July'," the volunteer said.
But the volunteer said he wasn't so sure.
"It's really widened that gap between the city and the country. All those Melbourne members pushing for this levy when they knew it would be toxic," he said.
"And it's the volunteers out here who get blamed. Well, we've had a gutful of this stuff.
"You're not going to get new members to come if no one's happy."