16-05-2025
Victorian councils 'deeply reluctant' to enforce emergency services levy
Victorian councils are "deeply reluctant" to enforce the state government's increased emergency services levy as backlash from the agriculture sector intensifies.
The Victorian government's Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund legislation passed through the Upper House on Thursday night and was met with outrage from some volunteer fire fighters.
The fund, which replaces the cheaper fire services levy, is designed to raise revenue for fire services, the State Emergency Service, triple-0 and the state control centre.
Councils across the state are now tasked with collecting the new tax from ratepayers from July 1, despite many local government bodies vehemently opposing the tax.
Regional Cities Victoria (RCV) chair Shane Sali said he was worried some residents would simply refuse to pay the new line item.
"That's a shortfall on their rates notice which means we have to go through a collection process of trying to get that outstanding money from ratepayers," he said.
Mr Sali said councils were in the dark around how they were expected to collect and handle any issues with levy payment.
Ararat Rural City Council chief executive Tim Harrison said his council was "deeply reluctant" to fulfil its legal obligation in collecting the tax.
Mayor Jo Armstong said the levy was "a complete travesty".
"It will impact every single resident, from our farmers and those on fixed incomes to local businesses, inevitably causing significant mental and financial hardship and further straining our local economy," she said.
Moorabool Shire Council Mayor Paul Tatchell said the change disproportionately impacted rural communities.
"There are fairer ways to do this and it's a shame the Victorian government is using our rural property owners to claw back some of their huge debt," he said.
Farmers in regional Victoria who already pay substantial rates in addition to volunteering say the new levy will add to their financial pressures.
Central Victorian farmer and CFA volunteer Prue Milgate said drought-affected farmers were heartbroken about the ripple effect her community would face.
"That money is what pays my sporting club, it's what pays my children's memberships to our excursions at the school," she said.
"Most farming families … are already struggling because we've had very little rainfall
Peter Shields, who has volunteered for 30 years as a CFA volunteer in Dookie, near Shepparton, says his fellow brigade members are throwing in the towel.
"I was the only one at the pub last night that wasn't pulling out of the CFA," the former Nationals candidate said.
"But I will not be turning up to any fire on government land."
On Friday Premier Jacinta Allan said CFA volunteers and farmers in 24 shires eligible for state drought support would be "exempt" from having to pay the levy.
But it was later revealed that CFA volunteer firefighters and farmers struggling through drought could apply for a rebate after paying the levy in full.
That rebate would only apply to a single property.
Ms Allan said every dollar raised would go back to emergency services and be reported on annually.
Acting CFA chief officer Gary Cooks said firefighters were pleased the government added some exemptions for volunteers and drought-affected farmers.
But Victorian Farmers Federal president Brett Hosking said it would be an arduous process for farmers and the CFA.
"It's an incredibly large burden to place on the CFA, who have enough to worry about already," he said.
Mr Hosking said the levy would prompt farmers to leave the industry and rural communities.
"That's one less family employed in the community, less kids in the school, less people at the local shop and less people on the back of firefighting appliances," he said.
Deakin University politics lecturer Geoff Robinson said the levy could have political ramifications for the state government.
He said few farmers voted for Labor but some provincial seats held by the government could be impacted.
"The government does face the potential perception that it is being seen as being very Melbourne-focused," he said.
The government said the new tax was needed to fund emergency services to respond to an increasing number of calls for assistance for fires, floods and extreme weather events.
Dr Robinson said the tax could be an example of the cost of dealing with climate change.
"That puts pressure on all levels of government, particularly on state governments, because they have a limited taxation base as well and often struggle to finance important services," he said.
Opposition agriculture spokeswoman Emma Kearley told ABC Radio Melbourne there needed to be more detail about the levy exemptions.
"It's being oversold," she said.
