Latest news with #GarryCook
Epoch Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Epoch Times
Victorian Volunteer Firefighters Walk Off the Job as State Enacts New Tax
Volunteer firefighters in regional Victoria stepped down on May 15 as state parliament enacted a new emergency services levy. There were reports of firefighters leaving their posts in regional communities on the night of May 15 when state MPs were debating on the bill, set to come into effect on July 1. The legislation passed in the early morning of May 16, after the state Labor government struck a deal with crossbenchers to secure their support. Under the law change, the current Fire Services Property Levy will be replaced by the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF), which will apply to other emergency and disaster bodies, including the State Emergency Service. Country Fire Authority Acting Chief Officer Garry Cook said the service was investigating whether the actions of volunteer firefighters the previous night were a protest against the new levy. 'The word strike, I probably wouldn't use that,' Cook told ABC Radio on May 16. Related Stories 5/15/2025 12/13/2024 'But what we've done is had brigades book themselves off by saying that (they have) a shortage of crews available to respond.' Levy to Raise Billions, But Sparks Backlash At the same time, residential homeowners and primary producers are expected to pay an extra $63 (US$40) and $678 per year, respectively. Initially, the Victorian government expected to raise an extra $2.14 billion over the next three financial years with the new tax. However, some concessions made by Labor in negotiations with crossbenchers are likely to reduce the revenue the state receives. The Victorian government said the new levy would ensure emergency services receive 'what they need' to However, the United Firefighters Union has rejected the government's argument, accusing it of using volunteer firefighters as cover for a new tax. 'I'm not an economist. But this [levy] comes up on land tax, property tax, COVID tax. This is just another tax,' United Firefighters Union Secretary 'It's disgusting that they [Allan government] try to hide behind the goodwill and good name the community has for emergency service workers, to raise money to retire debt. That is so disingenuous.' Meanwhile, Victorian Treasurer Jaclyn Symes has denied that the new levy would disproportionately impact farmers compared to other groups. In addition, she said volunteer fighters would not be affected by the change. 'I don't think it's got through to everyone that if you're a (CFA) volunteer, you're exempt from this levy,' Symes said. 'Many farmers are also CFA volunteers. So there will be many, many farmers who are also volunteers who will not be paying the levy.' Victoria's Debt Problem The levy comes amid intensifying scrutiny of the Victorian government's public finances. The state has become the most indebted state in Australia, driven by large-scale infrastructure and COVID-19 measures. In the most recent Victoria's net debt is also expected to grow from $133.2 billion on June 30, 2024, to $187.3 billion by June 30, 2028. The significant debt has prompted the state Labor government to impose
Perth Now
16-05-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Firefighters go dark as contentious tax hike ticked off
Volunteer firefighters have left their posts as a controversial emergency services tax hike passed into law in the dead of night. Regional communities were without local brigades on Thursday night after crews took themselves offline as parliament debated legislation to enact the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund. Country Fire Authority acting chief officer Garry Cook said leaders were working to understand whether it was in protest to the incoming levy. "The word strike, I probably wouldn't use that," he told ABC Radio Melbourne on Friday morning. "But what we've done is had brigades book themselves off by saying that (they have) a shortage of crews available to respond." The bill to establish the levy passed Victorian parliament in the early hours of Friday morning after the state Labor government brokered a deal to secure crossbench support. The levy will replace the Fire Services Property Levy from July 1 and expand coverage to other emergency and disaster bodies, including the State Emergency Service. It was originally projected to lift the average annual bill for residential home owners by $63 and $678 for primary producers, sparking protests from farmers and firefighters on the steps of state parliament. But under last-minute changes, the Allan government agreed to lower the rate for primary production land and rebates for CFA and SES volunteers and life members. Farmers will also be offered partial rebates but they are limited to those eligible for a temporary drought support package. Agriculture Minister Ros Spence on Friday announced $15.9 million to expand the program to another 13 local government areas, taking the total to 24. The expanded levy was originally forecast to raise an extra $2.14 billion over the next three financial years when unveiled in the mid-year budget update. Treasurer Jaclyn Symes, who will hand down her first budget on Tuesday, said it was "not accurate" farmers were getting whacked more than others. She said the levy would raise an extra $600 million a year, with 73 per cent coming from metropolitan properties and 27 per cent from regional properties. "I don't think it's got through to everyone that if you're a (CFA) volunteer you're exempt from this levy," the treasurer said. "Many farmers are also CFA volunteers. So there will be many, many farmers who are also volunteers who will not be paying the levy." Opposition Leader Brad Battin has not committed to repealing the levy if the coalition wins the next state election in November 2026. He has instead vowed to review it and other new and increased taxes implemented since Victorian Labor came to power in 2014.
