ONLY $250 million out of an expected $2.1 billion expected to be raised by Victoria's new Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund over the next three years is to go to the CFA and SES, according to Liberal MP for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell.
The upper house member is among a growing chorus voicing their opposition to the state government's new levy, which is set to replace the former fire services levy from 1 July.
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) is calling for an immediate halt to the levy, warning that whilst every Victorian will pay, farmers will pay the most.
"Under the proposed changes, the median fire services levy for primary producers will jump from $621 to $1299 per assessment, representing a staggering 109% increase," VFF president Brett Hosking said.
"This change will result in some landholders receiving hikes in the tens of thousands of dollars.
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"In comparison, residential property owners will see a lower increase of 32%, highlighting the disproportionate burden placed on the agricultural sector.
"The policy is a blatant cash grab that will worsen cost-of-living pressures across the state and cripple many farming businesses."
Legislation for the levy was passed in the Legislative Assembly on 20 March and it could be debated in the upper house this week, where it is being opposed by Ms Lovell and her Liberal and National party colleagues.
“The Labor government is deliberately misleading taxpayers by including the words ‘volunteers fund’ in the title of the tax, when in fact almost 90 per cent of the extra revenue raised will go to two government departments, and government entities including Triple Zero Victoria and the Emergency Management Commissioner," she said.
“Only $250 million of the extra $2.1b collected will go to the CFA and SES, while a number of volunteer organisations, such as volunteer ski patrols in our alpine resorts, are not listed to receive any funds at all."
One Nation MP for the region, Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell, said she was fundamentally against any additional taxes or levies that are going to increase the financial burden on regional communities.
“Our farmers are an integral part of our way of life...they feed us, and the entire nation, and for farmers to be subject to such a dramatic increase is a disgrace,” she said.
"I am committed to standing up for my constituents in Northern Victoria against what is yet another example of the government hitting the hip pocket of regional people.”
Primary producers face cost rises from 28.7 cents per $1000 capital improved value (CIV) to 83 cents, commercial properties would see a hike from 66.4 cent/$1000 CIV to 133 cents.
Government refutes levy 'lies'
THE Victorian government has defended its new Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund, accusing Liberal MP Wendy Lovell of "lying to regional Victorians" over where the funds raised will be spent.
Responding to questions from North East Media, a government spokesperson said the fund is about making sure emergency services have the sustainable funding and equipment they need to keep Victorians safe and to recover from natural disasters.
"Regional Victoria is one of the most fire-prone areas in the world and natural disasters such as fire, floods and storms are becoming more frequent and severe," they said.
"Every single dollar raised by the new Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund will support our emergency services – helping them to keep communities safe year-round."
The spokesperson said Ms Lovell's claims that "almost 90% of the extra revenue raised will go to two government departments" was false and that Fire Rescue Victoria and the Country Fire Association would be the two entities receiving the most funding from the ESVF".
The spokesperson also said "the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund Bill makes it clear that the fund will be used to collect up to 95% of the budgets for CFA and VICSES – this is more than $250 million".
The spokesperson said entities included within the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund Bill include VICSES CFA, EMV, FFMVIC, SCC and ERV.
