Council
3 April, 2025
Councillors unanimous in fire levy condemnation
MOYNE Shire Council will request a reassessment of the Victorian Government’s Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund Levy in condemnation of bureaucratic cost shifting.
Moyne Shire councillors voted unanimously to voice their concerns rural and regional communities, particularly those in the agricultural industry, would be hit with greater expenditure under the government’s proposed new tax.
Moyne Shire Council had already endorsed a motion to the Municipal Association of Victoria regarding concerns surrounding the levy at last month’s Ordinary Meeting of Council, but at last week’s March meeting resolved to contact the Victorian Government formally requesting a reassessment.
Councillor Susan Taylor moved the motion, which was seconded by councillor Lloyd Ross.
“I think it’s important for council to do as much as possible to object to this levy,” Cr Taylor said.
“There seems to be a couple of considerations for council.
“One is the effect on ratepayers – money is going out of our shire, particularly being a regional council, we have a lot of agricultural ratepayers, and this will hit them harder than anyone else.
“On a second point, there is a cost to council administering this levy.”
Cr Taylor said it was clear the levy was designed to balance rather than support emergency services.
“When Tim Pallas (former Victorians treasurer) announced this change in the emergency services and volunteer levy, he actually directly linked it to Victoria’s increasing deficit,” she said.
“It’s very apparent this is not just about increasing our capacity in the area of emergency services, it is actually to fill a shortfall in the government’s budget.
“I don’t think it’s fair that imposition is put on to rural and regional ratepayers.”
Councillor Jordan Lockett said he agreed, and condemned another example of the Victorian Government shifting costs on to Local Government.
“It’s another example of cost shifting from the State Government on to Local Government – which is further increasing time and time again,” he said.
“The farmers are already struggling, we have a significant drought in the region and the country as a whole, and it’s been an extensive bushfire season.
“The time is terrible – but I don’t think any timing is good for such a larger cost shifting exercise.
“I’d like to congratulate the work our staff have done with this important motion.”
Mayor councillor Karen Foster said the proposed levy does not seem to accord with the rating principles of equity, efficiency, benefit and capacity to pay.
“We can see that people are already doing it tough – for example, overdue rate payments to council have increased by more than 60 per cent over the last two years despite rate capping,” she said.
“Council is particularly concerned about the impact on farmers and other rural businesses who will feel the impact of this levy profoundly.
“To what extent has the original intent of the existing Fire Services Levy been retained within this proposed change?
“If implemented, this significant change presents additional and complex duties upon local government, which council is not resourced to do.”
“Council encourages the State Government to hear the message from Moyne Shire, in particular our rural communities, and consider significant revisions to the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund Levy proposed changes.”