Council
31 July, 2025
Councils remain steadfast in ESVF opposition
CORANGAMITE and Moyne Shire Councils have doubled down on their opposition to the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF) after concern was raised following reports neither council had attended a recent meeting in opposition to the levy.
Criticism circulated online this week after a Herald Sun report noted 22 Victorian councils had met to discuss aspects of the ESVF, with residents noting representatives of Corangamite and Moyne had been absent.
While both councils confirmed no representatives had been in attendance, both reiterated their ongoing opposition to the ESVF.
Moyne Shire Council deputy mayor councillor Jordan Lockett said notification or an invitation to the meeting had not reached council, but said the shire remined committed to its opposition of the ESVF.
“Moyne Shire Council has been a leading advocate against the ESVF Levy and we remain opposed to the disproportionate increase that farmers face under the levy,” he said.
“Moyne Shire Council has advocated through multiple discussions and letters to the State Government including the Premier, Treasurer, ministers, shadow ministers and local members.
“Mayor Karen Foster has been interviewed multiple times by media from across the state urging the State Government to find a more equitable solution and was involved in the unprecedented show of unity by the mayors of eight local shire and city councils in Mortlake in May.”
Corangamite Shire Council mayor Kate Makin said the shire would continue its advocacy against the ESVF.
Western District Newspapers understands Corangamite Shire councillors will instead this week be meeting with various government representatives, in line with the resumption of Parliament following the winter break.
“Council leads advocacy on the removal of the ESVF Levy,” Cr Makin said.
“That includes letters to Premier Jacinta Allan, Treasurer Jaclyn Symes, Local Government Minister Nick Staikos and Emergency Services Minister Vicki Ward.
“We have also advocated to Shadow Treasurer James Newbury, Shadow Emergency Services Minister Danny O’Brien, Shadow Local Government Minister Bev McArthur and all Western Victorian Region MPs.”
“As far back as February, we made a submission to the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) State Council that the MAV request the Victorian Government to reassess the funding model to ensure it is equitable and doesn’t disproportionately burden rural communities; shift levy collection responsibilities to the State Government; compensate councils for administrative costs if collection duties remain delegated and to implement a comprehensive communication strategy to clarify the levy’s purpose and allocation.”
Cr Makin said advocacy had yielded results, citing the state’s decision to cap the levy at the 2024/2025 rate for all farms.
“Councillor Jamie Vogels and I both spoke in support of volunteers and removal of the Levy at the Country Fire Authority Rally in Camperdown in May,” she said.
“We are also supporting advocacy through Rural Councils Victoria, where I am deputy chair, and the MAV, where councillor Ruth Gstrein is a board member.”
Corangamite Shire delivered its position statement in June, labelling the ESVF as a “detrimental blow” which places “a significant increase of state burden on residents already grappling with crippling drought, bushfire recovery, cost-of-living pressures, and a mental health crisis”.
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