Firefighters go dark as contentious tax hike ticked off
Volunteer firefighters have left their posts as a controversial emergency services tax hike passed into law in the dead of night.
Regional communities were without local brigades on Thursday night after crews took themselves offline as parliament debated legislation to enact the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund.
Country Fire Authority acting chief officer Garry Cook said leaders were working to understand whether it was in protest to the incoming levy.
"The word strike, I probably wouldn't use that," he told ABC Radio Melbourne on Friday morning.
"But what we've done is had brigades book themselves off by saying that (they have) a shortage of crews available to respond."
The bill to establish the levy passed Victorian parliament in the early hours of Friday morning after the state Labor government brokered a deal to secure crossbench support.
The levy will replace the Fire Services Property Levy from July 1 and expand coverage to other emergency and disaster bodies, including the State Emergency Service.
It was originally projected to lift the average annual bill for residential home owners by $63 and $678 for primary producers, sparking protests from farmers and firefighters on the steps of state parliament.
But under last-minute changes, the Allan government agreed to lower the rate for primary production land and rebates for CFA and SES volunteers and life members.
Farmers will also be offered partial rebates but they are limited to those eligible for a temporary drought support package.
Agriculture Minister Ros Spence on Friday announced $15.9 million to expand the program to another 13 local government areas, taking the total to 24.
The expanded levy was originally forecast to raise an extra $2.14 billion over the next three financial years when unveiled in the mid-year budget update.
Treasurer Jaclyn Symes, who will hand down her first budget on Tuesday, said it was "not accurate" farmers were getting whacked more than others.
She said the levy would raise an extra $600 million a year, with 73 per cent coming from metropolitan properties and 27 per cent from regional properties.
"I don't think it's got through to everyone that if you're a (CFA) volunteer you're exempt from this levy," the treasurer said.
"Many farmers are also CFA volunteers. So there will be many, many farmers who are also volunteers who will not be paying the levy."
Opposition Leader Brad Battin has not committed to repealing the levy if the coalition wins the next state election in November 2026.
He has instead vowed to review it and other new and increased taxes implemented since Victorian Labor came to power in 2014.
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