CFA and farmers fight new levy

COUNTRY Fire Authority (CFA) members gathered in protest across the region in response to a new State Government property tax.

By wd-news

Taking a stand: Country Fire Authority (CFA) units from across the district gathered at a rally against the new Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy on Tuesday.

CFA units across Victoria began declaring themselves offline as members stood down in protest following the passing of the Fire Services Property Amendment Bill 2025 in Parliament last Thursday.

The Fire Services Property Amendment Bill 2025 will see property owners slugged with increased taxes – including some primary producers being hit with a 170 per cent increase.

While the funds will go to the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF), in what the government says is a necessary investment in providing emergency services with greater support to respond to increasing emergencies, concerns have been raised the taxes will do far more harm than good.

Rallies were held in Camperdown and Warrnambool on Tuesday, which saw hundreds of emergency services volunteers from across the south west stand united against the ESVF.

The Camperdown satellite rally was organised by Chocolyn CFA secretary Leigh Harry, who shared one simple message with the crowd of hundreds – “Scrap the tax”.

He said the idea for the rally had started as a small idea but quickly grew to see a large presence.

“It was something borne Friday night at our CFA shed because we wanted to throw a little protest of our own, and the support started to build quite quickly,” Mr Harry said.

“We spread the word and it’s really gone beyond our expectations in terms of support from the CFA, State Emergency Service and the community.

“That’s what it’s all about so we’re rapt, and we hope our eff orts are recognised in Melbourne.”

Mr Harry said he was thrilled to see brigades attended from across the region including Camperdown, Boorcan, Mortlake, Timboon, Simpson, Bungador, Hexham, Ecklin and Tralee.

“We’re all affected, so there’s a lot of brigades offline at the moment who are still concerned about protecting their community,” he said.

“While we’re trying to show some action against the government, we’re also weary of protecting our local communities.

“It’s a tricky line to have stepped on but we’ll always be here for our communities – but we have to find ways to get our message across to the Victorian Government.”

CFA members have found support from the opposition, who slammed the tax as unfairly targeting agricultural business owners – many of whom are volunteers in the state’s emergency services.

Western Victoria MP Bev McArthur spoke out against the tax in Parliament last Thursday, saying western Victorians will be among the hardest hit by a tax which has “very little to do with funding volunteers”.

“It is more about taxing volunteers, and most of the hiked taxes on agriculture – a 189 per cent increase, no less – will effectively be general revenue, funding metropolitan services and bureaucracies,” she said.

“In my electorate Moyne Shire Council will face one of the highest average rises.

“They report primary producers will face a 170 per cent increase, rural residential landholders a 34 per cent increase and commercial operators a 74 per cent hike.

“This translates to an additional $5.9 million extracted from the Moyne shire alone.

“Given the prolonged drought conditions in Moyne and neighbouring municipalities like Corangamite, how does the government justify imposing such disproportionate increases on rural areas, as the revenue will largely be spent on general government spending?”

CFA acting chief officer Garry Cook made a statement to the media last Friday in responses to the protests, vowing communities would continue to be protected.

“The community can be assured that we have operating procedures in place to ensure that when brigades are offline, for any reason, we can have neighbouring brigades respond to protect communities or put in place alternative arrangements,” he said.

“The safety of life and property is always our number one priority.

“We expect that our brigades will turn out to protect their communities as they always have done in their time of need.”

Mr Cook also acknowledged the pressures volunteers were facing due to the ESVF.

“CFA acknowledges that our volunteers and brigades, many of whom are from rural communities, are facing a lot of pressure, including as a result of drought which is impacting their livelihoods,” he said.

“We respect their right to engage in matters relevant to their local communities, including those who are concerned about the potential impact of the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund.

“The Victorian Government has announced that a rebate will apply to all eligible CFA operational and support volunteer members and we will be working with our members to ensure they have the information they need to apply to the government for the rebate.

“We are proud of the work that our members do to provide critical services 24/7 in protecting their communities.”

Despite the backlash, the Victorian Government has stood fi rm on the ESVF.

Treasurer Jaclyn Symes said the fund would assist emergency services in responding to emergency situations.

“These changes will give emergency services the funding and equipment they need as they face natural disasters which are happening more often and becoming more destructive,” she said.