Latest news with #EmergencyServicesandVolunteersFund
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Climate
- Sydney Morning Herald
The parched part of Victoria where even football fields are ground down by drought
The meagre grass cover at the ground was only possible thanks to water supplied from a nearby property when the club was trying to resow the ground. Nearby dairy farmer Josh Parsons pumped water from his dam to the football ground in March. But with the water level now dropping below halfway, Parsons said he was no longer able to continue providing water. 'If it doesn't fill this winter, I've got to get through all next summer as well,' he said. Parsons, who milks 300 cows and has 600 acres of land, said last autumn was terrible, and this one had been worse. He said he began the summer with enough fodder that would usually last well over 1½ years. But without rain, Parsons said that would be gone by late August. Although winter typically brings reliable rain in south-west Victoria, the region is now into its second year of prolonged dry weather. Colac has had its lowest rainfall on record for an 18-month period ending in April, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. Colac's water storages are now down to about 50 per cent. In the 25 months since April 2023, the coastline from Warrnambool to Cape Otway has had its lowest rainfall on record. Monash University climate scientist Ailie Gallant said heavy rain events were now required to break the drought. 'Unfortunately, at the moment there's no indication they're on the horizon,' she said. Gallant said storms, particularly in south-west Victoria, had been less frequent or dropping smaller quantities of rain than usual. The regions from Adelaide through to south-western Victoria were the areas hit the hardest by drought, she said. Loading 'For a drought to go on this long and have these consistently low monthly rainfalls – that's a big deal. It's not good,' she said. Gallant said while south-west Victoria might still be receiving higher rainfall totals than other typically dry regions, it was still causing widespread social problems and undermining agriculture in drought-affected areas. 'Drought is all relative to the location,' she said. 'It's not going to be as dry necessarily as Mildura. But the point is that the south-west area is used to higher rainfall.' The Victorian government has faced a fierce backlash from farmers after it sought to introduce a new Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund, to replace the Fire Services Property Levy, under which property owners pay to help fund the Country Fire Authority and Fire Rescue Victoria. From July the new levy will fund all emergency services. But farmers had railed against the government's plans after many faced levy increases of up to 150 per cent. On Friday, Premier Jacinta Allan announced a one-year pause on the contentious tax hike for farmers. The government also announced extended drought relief measures after weeks of political pressure. In a statement, the government said that rainfall in May reached the worst-case scenario projected at the beginning of the month. It committed an additional $37.7 million in drought funding, providing $5000 in grants to provide support on farms. That figure will rise to $10,000 for farmers in south-west Victoria and parts of the Wimmera, where the drought has hit particularly hard. The government said the conditions had left paddocks and dams dry while fodder prices had doubled. In May, the government agreed to allow farmers in 24 drought-affected areas to pay a reduced emergency services levy. On Friday, it extended that to all primary producers for the 2025-26 year. Allan said the drought was affecting farmers across the state. 'There will be people going to the wall. Some really tough decisions are being made right now.' Dairy farmer Matt Reid 'It's why we're expanding support statewide,' she said. Victorian Farmers Federation president Brett Hosking welcomed the increased funding but called for the new levy to be scrapped. Councils will have to collect the levy, and many have pushed back against the increased payments. Last week, the Baw Baw and Loddon shire councils voted to oppose the tax, urging the state government to back down. Loading Matt Reid, a dairy farmer and the Western Eagles' vice president, said the news that farmers would not pay the increased levy for a year would come as a relief. But he said farmers were still hurting, with long waits at abattoirs as producers sought to offload stock because they could not afford feed and water. He described the drought as a 'shake-out event' and some farmers would be forced to leave the land. 'There will be people going to the wall,' he said. 'Some really tough decisions are being made right now.'
The Age
3 days ago
- Climate
- The Age
The parched part of Victoria where even football fields are ground down by drought
The meagre grass cover at the ground was only possible thanks to water supplied from a nearby property when the club was trying to resow the ground. Nearby dairy farmer Josh Parsons pumped water from his dam to the football ground in March. But with the water level now dropping below halfway, Parsons said he was no longer able to continue providing water. 'If it doesn't fill this winter, I've got to get through all next summer as well,' he said. Parsons, who milks 300 cows and has 600 acres of land, said last autumn was terrible, and this one had been worse. He said he began the summer with enough fodder that would usually last well over 1½ years. But without rain, Parsons said that would be gone by late August. Although winter typically brings reliable rain in south-west Victoria, the region is now into its second year of prolonged dry weather. Colac has had its lowest rainfall on record for an 18-month period ending in April, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. Colac's water storages are now down to about 50 per cent. In the 25 months since April 2023, the coastline from Warrnambool to Cape Otway has had its lowest rainfall on record. Monash University climate scientist Ailie Gallant said heavy rain events were now required to break the drought. 'Unfortunately, at the moment there's no indication they're on the horizon,' she said. Gallant said storms, particularly in south-west Victoria, had been less frequent or dropping smaller quantities of rain than usual. The regions from Adelaide through to south-western Victoria were the areas hit the hardest by drought, she said. Loading 'For a drought to go on this long and have these consistently low monthly rainfalls – that's a big deal. It's not good,' she said. Gallant said while south-west Victoria might still be receiving higher rainfall totals than other typically dry regions, it was still causing widespread social problems and undermining agriculture in drought-affected areas. 'Drought is all relative to the location,' she said. 'It's not going to be as dry necessarily as Mildura. But the point is that the south-west area is used to higher rainfall.' The Victorian government has faced a fierce backlash from farmers after it sought to introduce a new Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund, to replace the Fire Services Property Levy, under which property owners pay to help fund the Country Fire Authority and Fire Rescue Victoria. From July the new levy will fund all emergency services. But farmers had railed against the government's plans after many faced levy increases of up to 150 per cent. On Friday, Premier Jacinta Allan announced a one-year pause on the contentious tax hike for farmers. The government also announced extended drought relief measures after weeks of political pressure. In a statement, the government said that rainfall in May reached the worst-case scenario projected at the beginning of the month. It committed an additional $37.7 million in drought funding, providing $5000 in grants to provide support on farms. That figure will rise to $10,000 for farmers in south-west Victoria and parts of the Wimmera, where the drought has hit particularly hard. The government said the conditions had left paddocks and dams dry while fodder prices had doubled. In May, the government agreed to allow farmers in 24 drought-affected areas to pay a reduced emergency services levy. On Friday, it extended that to all primary producers for the 2025-26 year. Allan said the drought was affecting farmers across the state. 'There will be people going to the wall. Some really tough decisions are being made right now.' Dairy farmer Matt Reid 'It's why we're expanding support statewide,' she said. Victorian Farmers Federation president Brett Hosking welcomed the increased funding but called for the new levy to be scrapped. Councils will have to collect the levy, and many have pushed back against the increased payments. Last week, the Baw Baw and Loddon shire councils voted to oppose the tax, urging the state government to back down. Loading Matt Reid, a dairy farmer and the Western Eagles' vice president, said the news that farmers would not pay the increased levy for a year would come as a relief. But he said farmers were still hurting, with long waits at abattoirs as producers sought to offload stock because they could not afford feed and water. He described the drought as a 'shake-out event' and some farmers would be forced to leave the land. 'There will be people going to the wall,' he said. 'Some really tough decisions are being made right now.'
The Advertiser
4 days ago
- Business
- The Advertiser
Tax reprieve for farmers as drought declared statewide
Farmers will be temporarily spared from paying a hiked emergency services levy as drought support is expanded statewide. An extra $37.7 million has been earmarked for drought relief in Victoria as paddocks and dams run dry following low autumn rainfall. A Victorian drought relief package, which includes $5000 grants, will be made available across the state after previously being limited to 24 local government areas. Its expansion means all farmers will not pay the increased rate for the expanded emergency services levy in the 2025/26 financial year. Their rate will remain at the same level as 2024/25 and automatically applied to notices for primary production properties. The expansion of drought support was based on Bureau of Meteorology and Agriculture Victoria advice that the worse case for May rainfall had been realised, Premier Jacinta Allan said. "All of Victoria is being now recognised as being affected by drought," she told reporters in Fiskville on Friday. Thousands of farmers and firefighters protested against the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy outside Victorian parliament on May 20, the day of the state budget was handed down. Under the original changes to the levy from July 1, the average annual bill was expected to rise $678 for primary producers and $63 for residential home owners. Spooked by the backlash, the Allan government lowered the rate for farmers and introduced rebates for CFA and SES volunteers and life members. The expanded levy was meant raise an extra $2.1 billion over the next three years to cover more emergency service agencies in the face of more frequent and intense natural disasters. Treasurer Jaclyn Symes said the recent tweaks would leave the budget $73 million worse off but she remained confident of delivering an operating surplus of $600 million in 2025/26. "It doesn't impact any of the commitments that we've made," she said. The premier will also chair a drought task force that includes Ms Symes, Agriculture Minister Ros Spence and Nationals MP Peter Walsh, as well as farming, banking and local government representatives. "We know there will be more work that we need to do," Ms Allan said. Victorian Farmers Federation President Brett Hosking, who is on the task force, said the government had noticed backlash to the levy and decided to offer farmers a glimmer of hope. "At a frozen level, we've placed our farmers in a position where they can get through the next 12 months," he said. Wimmera farmer Andrew Weidemann and United Firefighters Union secretary Peter Marshall, who led the budget day protest, still want the expanded tax scrapped. "The laws will remain on the books, and the tax will hang over the heads of every Victorian ... for every year to come," they said in a joint statement. Victorian Nationals deputy Emma Kealy said the expanded levy on producers was "unjustified and unfair", regardless of whether they faced drought conditions or not. "The latest drought package falls short when it comes to water and fodder requirements farmers have been calling for over several months," she said. Farmers will be temporarily spared from paying a hiked emergency services levy as drought support is expanded statewide. An extra $37.7 million has been earmarked for drought relief in Victoria as paddocks and dams run dry following low autumn rainfall. A Victorian drought relief package, which includes $5000 grants, will be made available across the state after previously being limited to 24 local government areas. Its expansion means all farmers will not pay the increased rate for the expanded emergency services levy in the 2025/26 financial year. Their rate will remain at the same level as 2024/25 and automatically applied to notices for primary production properties. The expansion of drought support was based on Bureau of Meteorology and Agriculture Victoria advice that the worse case for May rainfall had been realised, Premier Jacinta Allan said. "All of Victoria is being now recognised as being affected by drought," she told reporters in Fiskville on Friday. Thousands of farmers and firefighters protested against the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy outside Victorian parliament on May 20, the day of the state budget was handed down. Under the original changes to the levy from July 1, the average annual bill was expected to rise $678 for primary producers and $63 for residential home owners. Spooked by the backlash, the Allan government lowered the rate for farmers and introduced rebates for CFA and SES volunteers and life members. The expanded levy was meant raise an extra $2.1 billion over the next three years to cover more emergency service agencies in the face of more frequent and intense natural disasters. Treasurer Jaclyn Symes said the recent tweaks would leave the budget $73 million worse off but she remained confident of delivering an operating surplus of $600 million in 2025/26. "It doesn't impact any of the commitments that we've made," she said. The premier will also chair a drought task force that includes Ms Symes, Agriculture Minister Ros Spence and Nationals MP Peter Walsh, as well as farming, banking and local government representatives. "We know there will be more work that we need to do," Ms Allan said. Victorian Farmers Federation President Brett Hosking, who is on the task force, said the government had noticed backlash to the levy and decided to offer farmers a glimmer of hope. "At a frozen level, we've placed our farmers in a position where they can get through the next 12 months," he said. Wimmera farmer Andrew Weidemann and United Firefighters Union secretary Peter Marshall, who led the budget day protest, still want the expanded tax scrapped. "The laws will remain on the books, and the tax will hang over the heads of every Victorian ... for every year to come," they said in a joint statement. Victorian Nationals deputy Emma Kealy said the expanded levy on producers was "unjustified and unfair", regardless of whether they faced drought conditions or not. "The latest drought package falls short when it comes to water and fodder requirements farmers have been calling for over several months," she said. Farmers will be temporarily spared from paying a hiked emergency services levy as drought support is expanded statewide. An extra $37.7 million has been earmarked for drought relief in Victoria as paddocks and dams run dry following low autumn rainfall. A Victorian drought relief package, which includes $5000 grants, will be made available across the state after previously being limited to 24 local government areas. Its expansion means all farmers will not pay the increased rate for the expanded emergency services levy in the 2025/26 financial year. Their rate will remain at the same level as 2024/25 and automatically applied to notices for primary production properties. The expansion of drought support was based on Bureau of Meteorology and Agriculture Victoria advice that the worse case for May rainfall had been realised, Premier Jacinta Allan said. "All of Victoria is being now recognised as being affected by drought," she told reporters in Fiskville on Friday. Thousands of farmers and firefighters protested against the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy outside Victorian parliament on May 20, the day of the state budget was handed down. Under the original changes to the levy from July 1, the average annual bill was expected to rise $678 for primary producers and $63 for residential home owners. Spooked by the backlash, the Allan government lowered the rate for farmers and introduced rebates for CFA and SES volunteers and life members. The expanded levy was meant raise an extra $2.1 billion over the next three years to cover more emergency service agencies in the face of more frequent and intense natural disasters. Treasurer Jaclyn Symes said the recent tweaks would leave the budget $73 million worse off but she remained confident of delivering an operating surplus of $600 million in 2025/26. "It doesn't impact any of the commitments that we've made," she said. The premier will also chair a drought task force that includes Ms Symes, Agriculture Minister Ros Spence and Nationals MP Peter Walsh, as well as farming, banking and local government representatives. "We know there will be more work that we need to do," Ms Allan said. Victorian Farmers Federation President Brett Hosking, who is on the task force, said the government had noticed backlash to the levy and decided to offer farmers a glimmer of hope. "At a frozen level, we've placed our farmers in a position where they can get through the next 12 months," he said. Wimmera farmer Andrew Weidemann and United Firefighters Union secretary Peter Marshall, who led the budget day protest, still want the expanded tax scrapped. "The laws will remain on the books, and the tax will hang over the heads of every Victorian ... for every year to come," they said in a joint statement. Victorian Nationals deputy Emma Kealy said the expanded levy on producers was "unjustified and unfair", regardless of whether they faced drought conditions or not. "The latest drought package falls short when it comes to water and fodder requirements farmers have been calling for over several months," she said. Farmers will be temporarily spared from paying a hiked emergency services levy as drought support is expanded statewide. An extra $37.7 million has been earmarked for drought relief in Victoria as paddocks and dams run dry following low autumn rainfall. A Victorian drought relief package, which includes $5000 grants, will be made available across the state after previously being limited to 24 local government areas. Its expansion means all farmers will not pay the increased rate for the expanded emergency services levy in the 2025/26 financial year. Their rate will remain at the same level as 2024/25 and automatically applied to notices for primary production properties. The expansion of drought support was based on Bureau of Meteorology and Agriculture Victoria advice that the worse case for May rainfall had been realised, Premier Jacinta Allan said. "All of Victoria is being now recognised as being affected by drought," she told reporters in Fiskville on Friday. Thousands of farmers and firefighters protested against the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy outside Victorian parliament on May 20, the day of the state budget was handed down. Under the original changes to the levy from July 1, the average annual bill was expected to rise $678 for primary producers and $63 for residential home owners. Spooked by the backlash, the Allan government lowered the rate for farmers and introduced rebates for CFA and SES volunteers and life members. The expanded levy was meant raise an extra $2.1 billion over the next three years to cover more emergency service agencies in the face of more frequent and intense natural disasters. Treasurer Jaclyn Symes said the recent tweaks would leave the budget $73 million worse off but she remained confident of delivering an operating surplus of $600 million in 2025/26. "It doesn't impact any of the commitments that we've made," she said. The premier will also chair a drought task force that includes Ms Symes, Agriculture Minister Ros Spence and Nationals MP Peter Walsh, as well as farming, banking and local government representatives. "We know there will be more work that we need to do," Ms Allan said. Victorian Farmers Federation President Brett Hosking, who is on the task force, said the government had noticed backlash to the levy and decided to offer farmers a glimmer of hope. "At a frozen level, we've placed our farmers in a position where they can get through the next 12 months," he said. Wimmera farmer Andrew Weidemann and United Firefighters Union secretary Peter Marshall, who led the budget day protest, still want the expanded tax scrapped. "The laws will remain on the books, and the tax will hang over the heads of every Victorian ... for every year to come," they said in a joint statement. Victorian Nationals deputy Emma Kealy said the expanded levy on producers was "unjustified and unfair", regardless of whether they faced drought conditions or not. "The latest drought package falls short when it comes to water and fodder requirements farmers have been calling for over several months," she said.
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Business
- Perth Now
Tax reprieve for farmers as drought declared statewide
Farmers will be temporarily spared from paying a hiked emergency services levy as drought support is expanded statewide. An extra $37.7 million has been earmarked for drought relief in Victoria as paddocks and dams run dry following low autumn rainfall. A Victorian drought relief package, which includes $5000 grants, will be made available across the state after previously being limited to 24 local government areas. Its expansion means all farmers will not pay the increased rate for the expanded emergency services levy in the 2025/26 financial year. Their rate will remain at the same level as 2024/25 and automatically applied to notices for primary production properties. The expansion of drought support was based on Bureau of Meteorology and Agriculture Victoria advice that the worse case for May rainfall had been realised, Premier Jacinta Allan said. "All of Victoria is being now recognised as being affected by drought," she told reporters in Fiskville on Friday. Thousands of farmers and firefighters protested against the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy outside Victorian parliament on May 20, the day of the state budget was handed down. Under the original changes to the levy from July 1, the average annual bill was expected to rise $678 for primary producers and $63 for residential home owners. Spooked by the backlash, the Allan government lowered the rate for farmers and introduced rebates for CFA and SES volunteers and life members. The expanded levy was meant raise an extra $2.1 billion over the next three years to cover more emergency service agencies in the face of more frequent and intense natural disasters. Treasurer Jaclyn Symes said the recent tweaks would leave the budget $73 million worse off but she remained confident of delivering an operating surplus of $600 million in 2025/26. "It doesn't impact any of the commitments that we've made," she said. The premier will also chair a drought task force that includes Ms Symes, Agriculture Minister Ros Spence and Nationals MP Peter Walsh, as well as farming, banking and local government representatives. "We know there will be more work that we need to do," Ms Allan said. Victorian Farmers Federation President Brett Hosking, who is on the task force, said the government had noticed backlash to the levy and decided to offer farmers a glimmer of hope. "At a frozen level, we've placed our farmers in a position where they can get through the next 12 months," he said. Wimmera farmer Andrew Weidemann and United Firefighters Union secretary Peter Marshall, who led the budget day protest, still want the expanded tax scrapped. "The laws will remain on the books, and the tax will hang over the heads of every Victorian ... for every year to come," they said in a joint statement. Victorian Nationals deputy Emma Kealy said the expanded levy on producers was "unjustified and unfair", regardless of whether they faced drought conditions or not. "The latest drought package falls short when it comes to water and fodder requirements farmers have been calling for over several months," she said.
Epoch Times
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
‘Not Funny': Cow Manure Stunt Leaves Victoria Premier Steaming
A box of cow manure dumped on the premier's door has her steamed off and prompted calls for a parliamentary probe. A farmer made the delivery outside Premier Jacinta Allan's parliamentary office on Tuesday as a protest raged on the front steps over the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy. A note on the box read: 'Dearest Jacinta, The vacuum-sealed dung package came wrapped in pink twine and with a photo of a cow attached. Manager of government business Mary-Anne Thomas accused Liberal MPs Bev McArthur and Nicole Werner of facilitating the placing of the 'offensive prop.' She has written to parliament's privileges committee to request an investigation into the pair for bringing 'discredit' to parliament. Related Stories 5/15/2025 5/5/2025 Allan said it was disgraceful behaviour and would not be tolerated in any other workplace. 'It's not funny, it's not a joke, it's not larrikin,' she told ABC Radio Melbourne on Wednesday. 'The staff member who had to deal with this told me that they didn't feel safe, they told me how their safety in their workplace was violated by this behaviour.' She criticised Opposition Leader Brad Battin for failing to condemn the behaviour and suggested he had instead 'backed it because it was done by one of his backers.' McArthur, who is a shadow cabinet member, has confirmed she was with the farmer when the package was delivered and described it as a 'harmless stunt.' 'Labor MPs are acting like they've never seen cow [expletive] before—maybe they don't get out of Melbourne much,' she said in a statement. 'If they're genuinely more upset about a pile of manure than the total mess they've made of their budget and this state, it's no wonder Victoria's going broke.' The only way regional Victorians can get a message through to Labor politicians was to deliver a '[expletive] cake direct to their door,' she added. Battin, who has been approached for comment, has pledged to scrap the expanded levy if the coalition wins government at the next state election in November 2026. Tuesday's state budget confirmed that the expansion of the levy from July 1 will raise an extra $2.1 billion in revenue over the next three financial years. It is expected to generate $1.8 billion a year from 2026/27 to cover the responses of more emergency services. 'Revenue will remain at that level over the forward estimates,' the budget papers say. 'Active (Country Fire Authority) and (Victoria State Emergency Service) volunteers and life members will be eligible for a rebate on their principal place of residence, farmland or single farming enterprise. 'The existing $50 concession for pensioners and veterans, and the concession for single-farm enterprises, will continue to apply.' The Victorian government also promised partial rebates for drought-affected farmers and to lower the charge rate for primary production land.
