16-05-2025
CFA brigades go offline in protest of government levy
Country Fire Authority brigades across Victoria took themselves offline as the government pushed its divisive Emergency Services and Volunteers Levy through state parliament on May 15.
CFA members posted videos recording tanker after tanker calling into emergency dispatch on Thursday evening, with brigades across south-west, western and central Victoria going offline.
Most used the by-the-book excuse of having insufficient members to turn out.
"[We have] no manpower [so] out of action until further notice," one brigade said.
The government's levy has provoked a simmering backlash since it was announced in December 2024.
The levy will raise far more revenue than the Fire Services Levy it is replacing, but ratepayers will foot the extra bill, with regional residents suffering the heaviest burden.
Regional emergency volunteers - particularly farmers who are already grappling with a record drought and cost of living crisis - have staged multiple protests.
The government delayed its first attempt to push through the levy in April, but anger rose again on May 15 as it negotiated the parliamentary support it needed to pass the bill.
While tankers were going offline, some volunteers were quitting the CFA entirely.
Coghills Creek farmer Lachlan Wrigley hung his CFA uniform on his front fence in protest, posting on Facebook for others to do the same.
"Hanging it up- because we've been hung out to dry. With the passing of the new fire levy increase, this CFA uniform is now free to a good home," Mr Wrigley wrote.
"Jacinta Allan, you can keep your levy - we won't be responding to any fire, let alone the tragic road accidents you seem to have forgotten we also attend.
"If you feel the same, hang up your uniform and let them see how many of us are done being taken for granted #hungouttodry."
Social media communications showed VICSES volunteers discussing taking their units offline like the CFA.
One unit controller said he had tried to take his unit offline but had been denied by senior command.
Country Fire Authority brigades across Victoria took themselves offline as the government pushed its divisive Emergency Services and Volunteers Levy through state parliament on May 15.
CFA members posted videos recording tanker after tanker calling into emergency dispatch on Thursday evening, with brigades across south-west, western and central Victoria going offline.
Most used the by-the-book excuse of having insufficient members to turn out.
"[We have] no manpower [so] out of action until further notice," one brigade said.
The government's levy has provoked a simmering backlash since it was announced in December 2024.
The levy will raise far more revenue than the Fire Services Levy it is replacing, but ratepayers will foot the extra bill, with regional residents suffering the heaviest burden.
Regional emergency volunteers - particularly farmers who are already grappling with a record drought and cost of living crisis - have staged multiple protests.
The government delayed its first attempt to push through the levy in April, but anger rose again on May 15 as it negotiated the parliamentary support it needed to pass the bill.
While tankers were going offline, some volunteers were quitting the CFA entirely.
Coghills Creek farmer Lachlan Wrigley hung his CFA uniform on his front fence in protest, posting on Facebook for others to do the same.
"Hanging it up- because we've been hung out to dry. With the passing of the new fire levy increase, this CFA uniform is now free to a good home," Mr Wrigley wrote.
"Jacinta Allan, you can keep your levy - we won't be responding to any fire, let alone the tragic road accidents you seem to have forgotten we also attend.
"If you feel the same, hang up your uniform and let them see how many of us are done being taken for granted #hungouttodry."
Social media communications showed VICSES volunteers discussing taking their units offline like the CFA.
One unit controller said he had tried to take his unit offline but had been denied by senior command.
Country Fire Authority brigades across Victoria took themselves offline as the government pushed its divisive Emergency Services and Volunteers Levy through state parliament on May 15.
CFA members posted videos recording tanker after tanker calling into emergency dispatch on Thursday evening, with brigades across south-west, western and central Victoria going offline.
Most used the by-the-book excuse of having insufficient members to turn out.
"[We have] no manpower [so] out of action until further notice," one brigade said.
The government's levy has provoked a simmering backlash since it was announced in December 2024.
The levy will raise far more revenue than the Fire Services Levy it is replacing, but ratepayers will foot the extra bill, with regional residents suffering the heaviest burden.
Regional emergency volunteers - particularly farmers who are already grappling with a record drought and cost of living crisis - have staged multiple protests.
The government delayed its first attempt to push through the levy in April, but anger rose again on May 15 as it negotiated the parliamentary support it needed to pass the bill.
While tankers were going offline, some volunteers were quitting the CFA entirely.
Coghills Creek farmer Lachlan Wrigley hung his CFA uniform on his front fence in protest, posting on Facebook for others to do the same.
"Hanging it up- because we've been hung out to dry. With the passing of the new fire levy increase, this CFA uniform is now free to a good home," Mr Wrigley wrote.
"Jacinta Allan, you can keep your levy - we won't be responding to any fire, let alone the tragic road accidents you seem to have forgotten we also attend.
"If you feel the same, hang up your uniform and let them see how many of us are done being taken for granted #hungouttodry."
Social media communications showed VICSES volunteers discussing taking their units offline like the CFA.
One unit controller said he had tried to take his unit offline but had been denied by senior command.
Country Fire Authority brigades across Victoria took themselves offline as the government pushed its divisive Emergency Services and Volunteers Levy through state parliament on May 15.
CFA members posted videos recording tanker after tanker calling into emergency dispatch on Thursday evening, with brigades across south-west, western and central Victoria going offline.
Most used the by-the-book excuse of having insufficient members to turn out.
"[We have] no manpower [so] out of action until further notice," one brigade said.
The government's levy has provoked a simmering backlash since it was announced in December 2024.
The levy will raise far more revenue than the Fire Services Levy it is replacing, but ratepayers will foot the extra bill, with regional residents suffering the heaviest burden.
Regional emergency volunteers - particularly farmers who are already grappling with a record drought and cost of living crisis - have staged multiple protests.
The government delayed its first attempt to push through the levy in April, but anger rose again on May 15 as it negotiated the parliamentary support it needed to pass the bill.
While tankers were going offline, some volunteers were quitting the CFA entirely.
Coghills Creek farmer Lachlan Wrigley hung his CFA uniform on his front fence in protest, posting on Facebook for others to do the same.
"Hanging it up- because we've been hung out to dry. With the passing of the new fire levy increase, this CFA uniform is now free to a good home," Mr Wrigley wrote.
"Jacinta Allan, you can keep your levy - we won't be responding to any fire, let alone the tragic road accidents you seem to have forgotten we also attend.
"If you feel the same, hang up your uniform and let them see how many of us are done being taken for granted #hungouttodry."
Social media communications showed VICSES volunteers discussing taking their units offline like the CFA.
One unit controller said he had tried to take his unit offline but had been denied by senior command.
