The 2025 State Budget is a slap in the face for the regions, The Nationals’ Leader Danny O’Brien and the Member for Northern Victoria Gaelle Broad said today.
Mr O’Brien was in Bendigo to discuss the fallout from the Budget as well as The Nationals’ commitment to scrap Labor’s new emergency services tax.
Ms Broad said the Budget confirmed what regional communities already know – Labor can’t manage money, and regional Victorians are paying the price.
“Labor has introduced 60 new or increased taxes, and yet the state’s net debt is set to skyrocket to $194 billion by 2028/29,” Ms Broad said.
“Victorians are footing the bill for Labor’s financial mismanagement and will soon be paying nearly $30 million a day in interest repayments or more than $1 million every hour. That money could be going to regional roads, schools, hospitals and local jobs.
“Instead, the Labor Government is ripping funds from regional families, farmers and small businesses through its new emergency services tax, which will hit regional landowners hard while delivering little back to the communities that need it most.”
Yesterday, thousands of farmers and volunteer firefighters rallied on the steps of Parliament in protest. Convoys from across Victoria, including CFA brigades from across Northern Victoria, rolled into Melbourne with dozens of fire trucks to demand the government scrap this unfair tax.
“I spoke with residents who had come from right across Victoria to protest. They feel crushed by a government that wastes billions of dollars and is seeking to take millions more from regional communities,” Ms Broad said.
“CFA Captains who have volunteered for over 35 years gave me their helmets to pass on to the Premier to make their voice heard.
“Farmers have told me they will struggle to pay this massive new tax and as a result, it will drive up costs for every household in Victoria,” Ms Broad said.
“The Nationals and Liberals will scrap this tax if elected to government,” Mr O’Brien said.
“The Nationals for Regional Victoria stand with our communities in calling out this city-centric budget that punishes the regions to pay for the Labor Government’s cost blowouts and mismanagement.”
“For the Premier and Treasurer to say there are no new taxes is completely misleading given that the new Emergency Services Volunteer Fund comes into effect on July 1 this year. Labor’s budget has once again proven they are not just out of money – they are out of touch,” Ms Broad said.
Media Contact: Linda Barrow 0484 303 764 linda.barrow@parliament.vic.gov.au
