Encouraging volunteerism in regional areas is becoming increasingly difficult, according to Nick McBride, the independent member for MacKillop.

Earlier this month, Mr McBride informed the House of Assembly that his MacKillop electorate office, based in Naracoorte, was contacted by constituents suggesting providing concessions for community contributors could help boost volunteer participation.

As a result, he asked treasurer Stephen Mullighan in Parliament to consider exempting volunteers from the CFS, ambulance, and Community Support Services (CSS) volunteers from paying the emergency services levy.

“It is becoming increasingly difficult to encourage people in the regional areas to volunteer. My office has been contacted by constituents who believe that offering a concession to those who contribute to the community would serve as an incentive to boost the numbers of volunteers,” he asked.

Responding to Mr McBride, the treasurer said his question was one that got raised from time to time.

“Of course, this year, I think, is the 25th birthday of the Liberal Party’s emergency services levy that they introduced here in South Australia. This is a tax conceived, designed, and introduced by those opposite,” Mr Mullighan said.

“Of course, what sits behind the member for MacKillop and his question is the important recognition of the extraordinary work that those South Australians who contribute to our emergency services response provide to their communities, and sometimes also to communities outside of South Australia when the need arises,” he said.

Mr Mullighan said the emergency services levy was introduced to replace the old fire services levy regime on comprehensive and third-party property vehicle insurance, building and contents insurance policies, and crop insurance.

“Of course, as we know, now it is levied on fixed property as well as mobile property, usually motor vehicles,” he said.

“While I am advised that at the time there was consideration given—and there has been periodic consideration over the last 25 years—about whether there should be some recognition through the regime of the ESL about how to recognise the contribution that those South Australians make to our emergency services who are volunteers.

“…Some of the challenges that have remained unresolved over the last quarter of a century with that include defining who would constitute an emergency service volunteer for the purposes of a concession; what concession, for example, might be made available to a volunteer who did not own property, and how they would receive a benefit as a result; and what concession would be made available, for example, if there were multiple volunteers in the one household, in the one item of fixed property?

Mr Mullighan said what the government had ensured was that the revenue that was generated by the emergency services levy was hypothecated into providing funding for emergency services.

“While no one likes any increase in any bill from year to year, it is important to note that all of that revenue from the fixed and mobile property goes directly into the facilities and the services, the equipment, and the staffing that is necessary in order for our emergency service organisations, their staff, and the volunteers that support them to continue protecting the state,” he said.

This article appeared in The Naracoorte News, 19 March 2025.