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The Advertiser
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
'Locals blame us': rural SES volunteers 'hated' over emergency services levy
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."
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.
The Advertiser
16-05-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
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.
Herald Sun
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Herald Sun
Premier Jacinta Allan courting Greens in last-ditch bid to save controversial new fire services levy
The Allan government is courting the Greens in an eleventh-hour bid to ram through its controversial new fire services tax ahead of next week's state budget, with the legislation at risk of being shelved once again. Treasurer Jaclyn Symes was forced to take the proposed Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund off the agenda as parliament returned on Tuesday after failing to strike a deal with the crossbench. The last minute battle to pass the new levy comes amid growing fury in regional Victoria and after fierys, farmers and local council members staged a protest against the increased tax outside the Victorian parliament on Friday, lining Spring St with dozens of rural fire trucks. On Tuesday, hundreds of frustrated volunteer firefighters wearing Country Fire Authority and Fire Rescue Victoria uniforms again gathered on the front steps of parliament in protest. Signs held by the crowd read 'burn the levy, not our wallets' and 'Jacinta lies, using emergency services to fund blowout'. One sign, handwritten on cardboard read 'scrap the tax, why rip me off when I volunteer and risk my life', while four fire trucks were parked out the front of the building. Debate on the rate hike, which is expected to reel in an extra $2 billion from landholders, has now been pushed to Thursday. The delay leaves just five days before Ms Symes' first budget as Treasurer, with the tax increase on households – which is expected to rake in an extra $600m in its first year alone – set to be written into the budget papers. Ms Symes on Tuesday said she was 'confident' that the legislation would pass either 'this week or next' sitting week. However, with the Coalition wanting the tax scrapped entirely, she has been forced to negotiate with the Greens who have a series of demands. Greens Leader Ellen Sandell said the party was concerned the levy 'won't fully fund' emergency services and that farmers were already facing hardship due to droughts across large swathes of the state. Ms Symes has guaranteed that '100 per cent' of the money raised by the new tax – which replaces the Fire Services Levy – will go to emergency services and volunteers. The government, however, will need to negotiate and gain support from other crossbenchers to get it over the line. Opposition Leader Brad Battin said Liberal MPs were opposed to the new tax and urged the Greens to not give in to backroom deals with the government. 'We all know that the Greens have done it before, where they go on and do a deal for something else to suit them, and, that would be very irresponsible on this particular occasion, because we known the impact is going to be on farmers across the state, on the food we put on our table and on every person who owns infrastructure across Victoria' he said. Libertarian MP David Limbrick said the Greens were 'totally out of touch on this' and needed to speak with regional Victorians and ratepayers who 'cannot afford' more tax. 'What the government is imposing here is a new tax on every ratepayer in Victoria, and it's not good enough,' he said. Shadow treasurer James Newbury said the government was going to have a 'big problem' on their hands if the Bill did not pass this week. 'Before the budget is even delivered there will be a $2 billion hole in the budget paper, which just goes to show that the budget papers, frankly, they're cooked,' he said. Mr Newbury thanked the cross bench for delaying the proposed new levy, as he pleaded with them to 'do the right thing' and block the Bill. The incoming levy, if passed, will hike rates for farmers by 189 per cent, meaning some will be paying tens of thousands in extra tax. CFA volunteers, many of whom are fuming about the new tax, will however be able to access a rebate.
