A State Government levy to raise funds for emergency services has caused some concerns, with suggestions that there was not enough consultation and that the levy is an expanded tax.

The Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF) was announced in December by the Victorian Government as a replacement for the Fire Services Property Levy and will be collected from Tuesday 1 July. The Government stated that the levy will provide funding for emergency services including VICSES, Triple Zero Victoria, the State Control Centre, Emergency Management Victoria, Emergency Recovery Victoria and Forest Fire Management Victoria, in addition to the CFA and Fire Rescue Victoria. Active CFA and VICSES volunteers and life members will be eligible for an exemption from paying the ESVF on their primary place of residence and the ESVF will be collected by councils and appear on rates notices.

Questions have been raised during last week’s parliamentary question time and in press releases from the Nationals, who said that the levy created less transparency on where and how money is spent. The Nationals’ Member for Northern Victoria Gaelle Broad said: “The ESVF is an expanded tax which will be collected by local councils.” She accused the government of scrambling to adequately fund vital emergency services through the ESVF. “This forces Victorian ratepayers to foot the bill for what should be core government services,” Ms Broad said.

Meanwhile Rural Councils Victoria (representing 34 member councils across the state) stated that it is “…disappointed with both a lack of consultation and the changes themselves, which are unfair on rural councils and rural communities.” RCV says it has written to state government ministers to seek clarity and about how the levy can be delivered fairly and equitably.

Further information on the ESVF is available at tinyurl.com/mvs4bcz5.

This article appeared in the Tarrangower Times, 28 February 2025.