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Epoch Times
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Volunteers Firefighters Protest, Say They're Being Used to Disguise New Tax on Victorians
Thousands of Victorian volunteer firefighters, farmers, and residents protested in front of the state's parliament, saying they are being used as a smokescreen for a new tax. On May 15, the Victorian Parliament passed the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF) bill to replace the previous Fire Services Property Levy, charging households and farms.
News.com.au
20-05-2025
- Politics
- News.com.au
‘Insult to farmers': Fireys and farmers descend on parliament to protest controversial levy
Thousands of furious CFA volunteers and firefighters have descended on Melbourne's CBD to protest the state government's expanded emergency services levy. Rows of firetrucks were lined up on Spring St in front of Parliament House early on Tuesday morning in protest of the new levy. Signs and banners called for Premier Jacinta Allan to scrap the controversial tax ahead of the state budget, which will be handed down on Tuesday afternoon. The Emergency Services Volunteer Fund (ESVF) levy is set to replace the existing Fire Services Levy that's attached to land rates in the state. The ESVF would increase the fees payable by farmers, many of whom are volunteer firefighters. Money raised would go towards fire services, the state control centre, SES and triple-0, the government said. Struggling farmers say they can't afford the tax increase, which opposition agriculture spokeswoman Emma Kealy said could be as high as 189 per cent. Traffic was at a standstill as the firetrucks rang their sirens through the concrete streets, sharing words of support to other farmers and volunteers standing at the steps of Parliament House. The protest began at 10am, with 3000 people expected to take to the streets, but dozens of firetrucks and CFA vehicles were already snaking around the streets of Melbourne before 9am as a crowd gathered at the steps. Dressed in CFA uniforms and waving signs and banners, a sea of farmers and volunteer CFA members blocked off Spring St. Protesters propped up bones of cows, sheep and other farm animals on the steps of parliament, while another dangled a plastic skeleton on the back of a vehicle. Among the protesters were CFA members from Stradbroke, Glenaladale, the Grampians, Allambee, and Fish Creek, whose firetrucks crossed the West Gate Bridge shortly after 4am. 'Scrap the tax,' one sign read. 'We fight your fires and grow your food. Now we pay your debts too?' read another. 'Fight your own fires, Jacinta,' was written on the side of a firetruck. 'We quit,' another read. Police lined up at the entrance of Parliament House as the sea of protesters marched the streets. Two firefighters from the Region 17 Parade in the Grampians region, who did not wish to be named, told NewsWire that the CFA was 'struggling for volunteers at the moment', and the levy would only add further strain to the load. 'A lot of people … are that close to jumping ship as it is,' he said. The Grampians firefighter urged Ms Allan to 'think hard about what (she's) doing'. '(The Victorian government) can't do what (it's) doing,' he said. 'You're going to have a lot of people revolt within the communities here.' The firefighter told NewsWire their region was already suffering through a 'massive drought', and the new tax was adding fuel to the fire. 'Our area (is) looking very dicey at the moment … because we haven't had very much rains there,' he said. '(Farmers) don't need much to be pushed over the edge.' Geoff Kendell, a farmer and former fire captain from Kerang who recently celebrated 50 years with the CFA, said the levy was an 'insult to farmers'. 'When there's a call-out, we stop everything we're doing, drop our tools and we go,' he said, adding the firefighters and volunteers 'put (their) lives on the line and the Labor government wants to go ahead and actually tax the living daylights out of us'. 'We're the guys that actually give the voluntary service and (the Premier) wants to tax absolute insides out of it,' he told NewsWire. While the majority of protesters took to the streets of the city, there was also a march in Victoria's Gippsland region. About half a dozen CFA firetrucks and between 250 to 300 people marched down Commercial Rd in Morwell about 11am – past the courthouse where Erin Patterson's triple-murder trial is being held. Protesters chanted slogans including 'axe the tax' as they travelled down the street, taking advantage of a large media pack outside for the trial. One protester told media they decided they might as well use the media presence in Morwell to voice their opposition to the government's emergency services levy.
Perth Now
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Farmers, fireys protest tax ‘insult'
Hundreds of furious CFA volunteers and firefighters have descended on Melbourne's CBD to protest the state government's expanded emergency services levy. Rows of firetrucks were lined up on Spring St in front of Parliament House early on Tuesday morning in protest of the new levy. Signs and banners called for Premier Jacinta Allan to scrap the controversial tax ahead of the state budget, which will be handed down on Tuesday afternoon. The Emergency Services Volunteer Fund (ESVF) levy is set to replace the existing Fire Services Levy that's attached to land rates in the state. The ESVF would increase the fees payable by farmers, many of whom are volunteer firefighters. Money raised would go towards fire services, the state control centre, SES and triple-0, the government said. Struggling farmers say they can't afford the tax increase, which opposition agriculture spokeswoman Emma Kealy said could be as high as 189 per cent. Traffic was at a standstill as the firetrucks rang their sirens through the concrete streets, sharing words of support to other farmers and volunteers standing at the steps of Parliament House. Hundreds of furious farmers and firefighters have descended on Melbourne CBD in protest of the state government's expanded emergency services tax. Alexandra Feiam/ NewsWire Credit: NewsWire Volunteers held signs in protest of the controversial tax. Alexandra Feiam/ NewsWire Credit: NewsWire The protest began at 10am, with 3000 people expected to take to the streets, but dozens of firetrucks and CFA vehicles were already snaking around the streets of Melbourne before 9am as a crowd gathered at the steps. Among the protesters were CFA members from Stradbroke, Glenaladale, the Grampians, Allambee, and Fish Creek, whose firetrucks crossed the West Gate Bridge shortly after 4am. 'Scrap the tax,' one sign read. 'Fight your own fires, Jacinta,' a message read on the side of a firetruck. 'We quit,' another read. A convoy of CFA trucks makes its way to Victoria's parliament to protest the new emergency services levy on May 20. 9News Credit: Supplied Two firefighters from the Region 17 Parade in the Grampians region, who did not wish to be named, told NewsWire that the CFA was 'struggling for volunteers at the moment', and the levy would only add further strain to the load. 'A lot of people … are that close to jumping ship as it is,' he said. The Grampians firefighter urged Ms Allan to 'think hard about what (she's) doing'. '(The Victorian government) can't do what (it's) doing,' he said. 'You're going to have a lot of people revolt within the communities here.' The firefighter told NewsWire their region was already suffering through a 'massive drought', and the new tax was adding fuel to the fire. 'Our area (is) looking very dicey at the moment … because we haven't had very much rains there,' he said. '(Farmers) don't need much to be pushed over the edge.' Thousands are expected to take to the steps on Tuesday morning. Alexandra Feiam/ NewsWire Credit: NewsWire Geoff Kendell, a farmer and former fire captain from Kerang who recently celebrated 50 years with the CFA, said the levy was an 'insult to farmers'. 'When there's a call-out, we stop everything we're doing, drop our tools and we go,' he said, adding the firefighters and volunteers 'put (their) lives on the line and the Labor government wants to go ahead and actually tax the living daylights out of us'. 'We're the guys that actually give the voluntary service and (the Premier) wants to tax absolute insides out of it,' he told NewsWire. Firetrucks parked outside Parliament House to protest the levy. Alexandra Feiam/ NewsWire Credit: NewsWire While the majority of protesters took to the streets of the city, there was also a march in Victoria's Gippsland region. About half a dozen CFA firetrucks and between 250 to 300 people marched down Commercial Rd in Morwell about 11am – past the courthouse where Erin Patterson's triple-murder trial is being held. Protesters chanted slogans including 'axe the tax' as they travelled down the street, taking advantage of a large media pack outside for the trial. One protester told media they decided they might as well use the media presence in Morwell to voice their opposition to the government's emergency services levy.
Sky News AU
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
'Land tax by stealth': Victorian Liberals pledge to scrap Labor's emergency services tax as thousands descend to protest Allan government
Labor's highly controversial new emergency services levy will be scrapped if the Victorian Opposition win government next year. Thousands of firefighters and farmers have descended on Parliament House to protest the government's Emergency Services Property Levy as Treasurer Jaclyn Symes prepares to hand down her first budget. The tax – which doubles the rate paid by landholders from the previous legislation – has triggered outcry in the regions as farmers argue they will be on the hook for tens-of-thousands are year in additional taxes. Victorian Opposition Leader Brad Battin announced on Tuesday, the "land tax by stealth" would be scrapped if he wins government in November next year. 'Only Labor could try and spin a massive land tax as support for volunteers. This is not about emergency services – it's about squeezing more cash from Victorians to pay for Labor's budget blowouts,' Mr Battin said in a statement. 'Under our plan, the Liberals and Nationals will repeal the ESVF and return to the simpler, fairer Fire Services Property Levy – a model that funds fire services transparently, without punishing homeowners, renters and farmers.' More to come.
ABC News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Firefighters, farmers stage Victorian budget day protest over emergency services levy
Dozens of Country Fire Authority (CFA) volunteers and farmers are travelling to Melbourne ahead of the state budget today to protest against the government's new emergency services tax. Among them is a fire brigade captain who says his station does not need the new truck allocated to it through the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF). The Corop West brigade was among the first to receive a new tanker via a $110-million investment in CFA, SES and Fire Rescue Victoria fleet replacement. But captain Toby Acocks said the first he heard of it was on ABC radio. "Myself, our group officer, our district commander, knew nothing of it," he said. "I'd say someone in Spring Street picked a brigade at random and we happened to be it. "We're probably a brigade that would happily upgrade to a hand-me-down from a bigger brigade and let someone else have a brand new one. "There's definitely other brigades that need new trucks before we do." Mr Acocks said there was "frustration and disbelief" over the new tax among brigade volunteers, but none had decided to quit. "To resign is really penalising the community we're trying to service rather than penalising the government," he said. A Victorian government spokesperson said the levy would help keep emergency services funded. "These changes will give emergency services the funding and equipment they need as they face natural disasters, which are happening more often and becoming more destructive," the spokesperson said. "Every single dollar raised by this new fund will support our emergency services, helping them to keep communities safe year-round." The government's initial announcement released Friday said CFA brigades in Darraweit Guim, Corop West, Barmah, Erica, Lubeck, Goroke, Crowlands, Modewarre, Kawarren and Moe South would be the first recipients of fire trucks funded through the ESVF levy. "You would have thought that the district commanders and the likes would have some input as to where they get allocated," Mr Acocks said. The government said new trucks were funded based on information provided to it by the CFA, based on operational need. Elmore farmer Eliza Ayres was boarding a bus in the dark this morning to travel to Melbourne for the protest. "I am here because I don't know any farmer who can actually afford this," she said. David Johnson was also travelling to Melbourne from Elmore and said the tax was "totally unfair". "Bloody hell, how many charities or organisations do you know where the volunteers have to pay to be volunteers? It's not on," he said. "They criticise Scott Morrison saying he doesn't know how to hold a hose, well I reckon the Premier better learn how to hold a hose," he said. The fund replaces the cheaper fire services levy and is aimed at raising more revenue for the fire services, the SES, the triple-0 call centre and the State Control Centre. The levy will be implemented by local councils with variable rates that depend on property type. The government says CFA and SES volunteers will be able to apply for a rebate after paying the tax, but Mr Acocks says that does not take into account the reality for many farmers. "From our understanding it's only a rebate on your primary residence — most operators in regional Victoria are going to have more than one rates notice," he said. The terms of the rebate will not be released until July. It will be the job of councils across the state to collect the new levy as a component of their annual rates bills. Earlier this year a group of regional councils lobbied the Victorian government to revise its plans for the new fund.
