A new ‘Scrap The Tax’ campaign has been launched by The Nationals, in a bid to kill off Labor’s destructive emergency services tax.
The Nationals’ Member for Northern Victoria Gaelle Broad said the proposed tax would hurt farmers, property owners and volunteers right across the state.
“I recently attended a community meeting at Baringhup where residents were very concerned about the tax,” Ms Broad said.
“People are angry and fearful about how this new tax will affect them.”
Under Labor’s Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund (ESVF), households will see their rates almost double. Commercial rates will increase by 100 per cent, industrial rates by 64 per cent, and farmers will face a staggering 189 per cent increase compared to what they paid under the previous levy.
Despite these major rate increases, the tax is unlikely to see local CFA brigades and SES units receive the extra funding they so badly need.
Funds raised by the tax are instead set to be shared with core government services such as Triple Zero, Forest Fire Management Victoria, and Emergency Management Victoria – services that are traditionally a part of standard government funding.
Ms Broad said the tax was hurting regional communities at a time when they could least afford it.
“Some farmers and residents are telling me they simply don’t know how they will pay this exorbitant and unfair tax,” Ms Broad said.
“The tax failed to pass through Parliament during the last sitting week, but more work is necessary now to make sure it does not proceed when Parliament resumes in May.”
Residents can share their concerns by visiting scrapthetax.com.au
Media Contact: Linda Barrow 0484 303 764
