The Nationals’ Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, is urging residents within the Mildura electorate to send a message to the Allan Labor Government to dump the controversial new emergency services tax.
The Nationals have launched the “Scrap The Tax” campaign aimed at killing off Labor’s latest hit on hardworking regional Victorians.
“The emergency services tax, a sneaky and callous cash grab will be Labor’s 60th new or increased tax,” Ms Benham said.
“We plan to stop it happening. The window to strike is now, with a vote in Parliament on the new tax deferred until next month, following public backlash.
“We need the help of all regional Victorians. Visit scrapthetax. com.au and send your protest message to the Treasurer, Jaclyn Symes.”
The impact of this tax makes for ugly reading:
- Households will pay almost double.
- Costs will be passed on to renters.
- Commercial rates to increase by 100 per cent.
- Industrial rates will soar by 64 per cent.
- Farmers face a painful 189 per cent rise.
“I’ve heard from many constituents across the electorate already struggling under the burden of Labor’s taxes including big increases in land tax,” Ms Benham said.
“This latest tax grab is not about emergency services, it’s a sneaky attempt to raise extra revenue because Labor can’t manage money and it is regional Victorians who will pay the price.
“Volunteer emergency service organisations remain in the dark about Labor’s tax. I have met with both the Country Fire Authority and local councils recently to discuss the potential impacts of this tax and to understand if stakeholders on the ground have any clarity over it.
“Instead of properly funding them, Labor is diverting this levy to cover core government agencies such as Triple Zero, the State Control Centre, and Emergency Management Victoria – services that should already be funded from existing tax revenue.
“This tax should never see the light of day. It must be scrapped.”
This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 9 May 2025.
