Emergency services levy bill delayed

By Geoff Adams

Apr 4, 2025

VFF president Brett Hosking is urging the Victorian Government to consult over the new emergency services tax.

The Victorian Government’s controversial bill to replace the existing Fire Services Property Levy with the new Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund, has been adjourned from parliament until after the federal election.

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The government has been facing opposition from representative fire organisations, local government and farmers, who are pointing out the change will dramatically increase the property levy.

On Thursday, April 3, the government informed the Legislative Council members that further debate on the bill would be adjourned until mid-May.

State Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell said the bill had been rushed with little explanation how it would work.

While some of the money would go towards emergency service organisations, some of the money would end up with bureaucrats.

Ms Lovell said farmers were facing huge increases in the new levy.

“Local government is against it, they don’t want to become the tax collectors,” she said.

The VFF has urged the government to use the delay to consult with them and iron out the issues worrying farmers.

VFF president Brett Hosking said while farmers would be breathing a temporary sigh of relief, legitimate concerns still linger regarding the proposed cash-grab.

“This is a step in the right direction,” Mr Hosking said.

“The government tried to push through a flawed tax without consultation and they have clearly failed to secure the numbers.

“I thank those MP’s who have demonstrated strong leadership slowing the passage of this new tax without proper community and stakeholder consultation.

“The VFF’s focus will remain on highlighting the very real destruction that this bill will cause and making sure the government doesn’t steamroll through with a reckless decision.

“We have families struggling with skyrocketing costs, and farmers battling drought, bushfires and rising expenses.

“A cost of living crisis is not the time to introduce an unnecessary new tax,” he said.

“The stalling of the bill gives us hope and more time, but we must see sweeping changes to the proposal.

“Our message to the government couldn’t be clearer: talk to us, consult with us and work collaboratively to get ideas that actually work and don’t risk taking a sledgehammer to the livelihoods of hard-working Victorian famers.”