A community forum at Baringhup Hall on Wednesday 26 March attracted close to 50 attendees, many with comments and questions about the State Government’s proposed Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund (ESVF). Arranged and hosted by local campaigner Brian Fitzgerald, the forum featured representatives from local and state government plus the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF).

Background

The Government announced in December 2024 that from 1 July 2025, the Fire Services Property Levy would be replaced by the new ESVF. The Bill to formally introduce the ESVF into law has passed the lower house of the Victorian Parliament and had its second reading in the upper house on Thursday 20 March. Member for Bendigo Maree Edwards MP pointed out that as the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly (the lower house), she does not participate in debate and so was accompanied at the forum by fellow Labor MP, Member for Ripon Martha Haylett, to hear feedback from the community about the Bill.

Nationals Member of the Victorian Legislative Council Gaelle Broad, who represents the Northern Victoria Region in the upper house, Senior Policy Advisor Glen Hepburn from the VFF and Deputy Mayor of Mount Alexander Shire Council Toby Heydon all spoke against the current form of the proposed ESVF.

“We all agree to fund the emergency services,” said Mr Fitzgerald in his introduction. “It’s just a matter of how we do it.”

Ms Edwards explained that the ESVF had been introduced as a result of a campaign by the State Emergency Services (SES) for financial support in the wake of the 2020 Bushfires Royal Commission (Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements). She said that while the ESVF Bill had already been debated in the upper house of parliament, there was the potential for it to return to the lower house for further debate if amendments are required. Ms Haylett said: “I’m getting a lot of feedback that there’s never been more pressure on our emer[gency services than now. We wanted to back them a bit more.”

Criticisms

Ms Broad said: “The CFA and SES are in need of additional resources, I absolutely agree. But I think the big question that comes in is the priorities of the government when it comes to that. Another new tax is very concerning.” She went on to say the services that the ESVF would fund according to the Bill, including Triple Zero, Emergency Management Victoria and Fire Rescue Victoria should be funded by the Victorian Government. “These are core services of government,” she said, pointing out that “…every dollar that goes to Spring Street is not spent in our local communities.” Ms Broad stated bluntly about the Nationals’ position: “We oppose this levy.”

Deputy Mayor Heydon advised the meeting that Council had taken steps about the issue (see the TT [Tarrangower Times] of Friday 28 March for coverage). “This has been a topic of significant concern for us. We’ve very clearly expressed our concern to the government,” he said. “Our principal concern is the impact on farmers around the shire, particularly with the other pressures on primary producers.” Mr Heydon also spoke about the “reputational risk” of Council being required to collect the new levy, given that council itself is restricted by a rate cap that prevents rate increases.

The VFF representative, Mr Hepburn, expressed worry about the impact of the increased cost to farmers, who would be affected by the land-value indexing of the levy. He said the average increase for farmers would be 109% and questioned the different costs for primary producers versus residential land owners: “One of the things we’re asking is what’s behind the rationale of the difference?” He pointed out that the levy represented an extra business cost that farmers would need to absorb or pass on expenses. “Costs change and you can adapt,” he said. “But this was a surprise and it was announced in December with no consultation.” Ms Edwards objected, saying: “There was definitely consultation, especially with the SES.”

Community comments

Numerous attendees addressed the panel and some key themes emerged. Some questioned why the levy could not apply as a flat rate to make it equal for farms and residential properties, others asked for transparency about where the funds would be spent. It was pointed out that there is already pressure on farmers and their families that has significant impact on mental health. Some queried the proposed levy exemptions or rebates for emergency service volunteers, wondering how these would be applied and what conditions would apply. Farmers pointed out that climate change increases the need for emergency services but also makes their income more erratic and that during some years they incur a negative income while the levy would still apply. In general attendees were critical about the perceived lack of fairness, consultation and clarity about the implementation of the ESVF.

Forum organiser Mr Fitzgerald intends to circulate further information and questions about the ESVF and said he will prepare an open letter from the community to the State Government, to be signed by local farmers. He concluded at the meeting by saying to Ms Haylett, Ms Edwards and Ms Broad: “We expect you three to go back to Spring Street and work out how to fund emergency services. Come up with something that’s not going to hurt like this will.”

This article appeared in Tarrangower Times, 4 April 2025.