A record-breaking petition with nearly 44,000 signatures, with strong local support was tabled in State Parliament on October 14, by Joe McCracken, Liberal Member for Western Victoria.
It urges the Government to “immediately cease” the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund , keep the current Fire Services Property Levy “in place for the foreseeable future,” and “commit to a genuine consultation process.”
This includes CFA and SES volunteers, farmers, emergency service workers and other interested parties, to develop a fairer way of funding Victorian emergency services.
Farmers, firefighters, and other ratepayers, who say the levy could cost them up to $60 million, have protested at Parliament throughout the year and locally (Pakenham and Wonthaggi).
79 Victorian councils have since united in opposition to being tasked with collecting the charge, arguing the state is offloading administrative and financial burdens onto local governments.
In a letter signed by Regional Cities Victoria chair Shane Sali, Rural Councils Victoria chair Rob Amos, and Municipal Association of Victoria president Jennifer Anderson, council representatives accused the government of failing to consult or respond to multiple requests for meetings.
Yarra City Mayor Stephen Jolly described the Premier’s silence on the issue as “arrogant”.
Community campaigner Nathan Murphy from advocacy group Not In Our Name said “through signing this record-breaking petition, 44,000 Victorians are sending a clear message to Jacinta Allan – it is time to scrap the tax”.
“This tax was passed through parliament in the dead of night earlier this year, many Victorians were not aware of its existence until they received their rates notices and are now expressing their anger and dismay,” he said.
“It’s not about supporting our brave men and women in the emergency services; it is a cash grab to retire State debt.”
Agricultural scientist Dr Mary Cole said while emergency services needed sustainable funding, questions remained about how the money would be distributed.
“Nothing is for free. Services must be paid for in some way. Fire will be an increasingly important part of our summers and must be managed efficiently,” she said.
“Adequate funding must go to ensure that all our fire stations are equipped with the best possible equipment and personal protection.
“It appears the Government, in their current dire economic situation, is combining a set of services under one levy and having the community pay through their rates rather than their taxes.
“Can farmers afford this increased fee and how much of that combined collection of levy money will go to the fire service? Maybe that is the question that needs to be answered.”
Opposition Leader MP Brad Battin said it’s time for Labor to “act” and “listen to the people of Victoria” because “this is one of the largest petitions in Victorian Parliament history”.
However one farmer, who wished to remain anonymous, doubted the petition’s success would change the government’s decision as they have “too much debt”.
Mayor Cr Jack Kowarzik said while the recent petition tabled to parliament on this matter is “for members of parliament to consider”, Cardinia Shire Council “remains committed to continuing to work with the local government sector to highlight our collective concerns, support our communities and advocate for a fair outcome for all”.
