Despite significant pushback from councils and community members the Victorian Government passed its Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund amendment in the early hours of Friday, May 16.

This decision has faced widespread criticism, including from Campaspe Shire Council.

The government described the fund as a response to an increased need for emergency services in the wake of more frequent natural disasters.

The ESVF replaces the previous Fire Services Property Levy, extending its coverage from the CFA and Fire Rescue Victoria to include VICSES, Triple Zero Victoria, State Control Centre, Emergency Recovery Victoria and Emergency Management Victoria.

Changes were proposed to the original bill, as follows:

With these changes, the ESVF was passed in the lower and upper houses.

“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,” treasurer and Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes said.

Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh, who voted against the amendment, labelled the fund as a land tax.

Mr Walsh was with CFA members and farmers protesting at Parliament House in Melbourne on Tuesday, May 16.

“It is a tax, not a fund ... and it’s overwhelmingly not going to emergency services,” he said.

“(The decision) follows on from a demonstration against the tax.

“Lots of people from our electorate were incensed.”

Among the Victorian Legislative Council members for Northern Victoria, the majority voted against the new fund.

These were Wendy Lovell, Gaelle Broad and Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell.

The remaining two members, Georgie Purcell and Jaclyn Symes, voted in its favour.

Ms Lovell criticised the amendments to the levy, citing pressures felt by producers before factoring in a rate increase.

“Large parts of rural Victoria are currently experiencing horrendous drought conditions and farmers are under incredible financial stress,” she said.

“To impose an excessive new tax on them at this time ... is heartless and cruel.”

Emergency Services Minister Vicki Ward said the ESVF would help to support improved resources for the agencies being funded.

“This new funding model is giving our incredible emergency service workers and volunteers the modern equipment they need to help keep communities safe,” she said.

Campaspe Shire Council, which ran an advocacy campaign against the ESVF, is disappointed by the outcome of Friday morning’s vote.

“Campaspe Shire Council is deeply disheartened by the passing of the Emergency Services Volunteer Fund by the Victorian Parliament,” Mayor Daniel Mackrell said.

“While we wholeheartedly support the necessity of funding for volunteers, Campaspe Shire Council, alongside numerous other Victorian councils, vehemently opposed the introduction of this fund.

“We firmly believe it imposes an unjust and disproportionate financial burden on rural and regional areas, with no assurance that the funds collected from our communities will be reinvested into our local emergency services.”

Cr Mackrell said the increase could negatively impact residents’ mental health, particularly primary producers who will pay the largest rate.

He is also concerned councils will not see the benefits of the funds, despite being tasked with collecting it in their annual rates notices.

“The increased financial burden imposed by this tax will exacerbate stress and anxiety among farmers, pensioners, and other residents who are already facing economic and environmental challenges,” he said.

“Farmers, many of whom are SES or CFA volunteers themselves, are expected to face an alarming increase compared with the former Fire Service Levy.

“Millions will be extracted from our community, only to be funnelled directly into state revenue, bypassing any local benefit.

“This state government tax is a direct hit to our rural communities, with none of the collected funds retained by the councils.”

Council has encouraged residents to sign a petition asking the Victorian Government to halt the introduction of the fund.

“We call for a fair approach to the redistribution of this tax that ensures the funds raised from rural communities are reinvested back into those same communities to support their emergency services,” Cr Mackrell said.

“Our community deserves support and compassion, not additional hurdles and hardships.

“We urge our community to sign an online petition requesting that the Legislative Council call on the Government to immediately cease the introduction of the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund.”

parliament.vic.gov.au/get-involved/petitions/emergency-services-and-volunteers-fund

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