The Nationals’ Member for Northern Victoria Gaelle Broad has accused the Allan Labor Government of robbing Peter to pay Paul as it scrambles to adequately fund vital emergency services.
From 1 July 2025 the Fire Services Property Levy will be replaced by a new Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF), which will appear on rates notices.
“The ESVF is an expanded tax which will be collected by local councils,” Ms Broad said.
It will go to fund services including the SES, Triple Zero, the State Control Centre, the CFA and Fire Rescue Victoria.
“This forces Victorian ratepayers to foot the bill for what should be core government services,” Ms Broad said.
“Using a levy to pay for more services means there will be less transparency on where and how money is spent.
“Labor needs to explain how much the ESVF tax will increase for Victorians already struggling with the cost of living to cover the funding of core government services such as Triple Zero.
“Instead of bearing gifts before Christmas, the Allan Labor Government wants Victorians to bear the burden of higher taxes.
“The renamed fire services levy is set to double, and Victorians are again paying the price because Labor can’t manage money.”
The Nationals have previously called for volunteers to be exempted from the fire services levy.
Ms Broad has also used Parliament to push for better support for the CFA.
“I have been advocating strongly for our hard-working CFA volunteers, particularly in light of the ageing tankers that are being moved from one brigade to another in northern Victoria.
“Services such as the SES and CFA are critical to regional Victoria’s emergency response and must be resourced appropriately as a core government function – not as a new levy that is tacked onto people’s rates notices,” Ms Broad said.
Ms Broad said regional Victorians were once again paying the price because Labor can’t manage money.
Media Contact: Linda Barrow 0484 303 764
