The Liberals and Nationals will scrap Labor’s Emergency Services Property Levy (ESVF), Member for Benambra, Bill Tilley, vowed at a rally on the steps of Parliament House on Tuesday (pictured).
“This is a tax that rips $765 million a year from Victorian families, farmers and small businesses under he guise of supporting emergency services,” Mr Tilley said.
“Labor’s new levy has doubled or even tripled charges for property owners across the state with primary producers hit hardest and facing rate hikes of up to 150 per cent.
“Under Labor’s changes, a typical home valued at $1 million now attracts a $309 annual charge, while small businesses and farmers are paying thousands more without any guarantee that money will go to frontline services.”
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) says under the changes, the median fire services levy for primary producers will jump from $621 to $1,299 per assessment, representing a staggering 109 per cent increase, resulting in some landholders receiving hikes in the tens of thousands of dollars.
“This tax affects every Victorian,” Mr Tilley said.
“Farmers, many of whom are battling drought, are the hardest hit and their vocal protest and numbers willing to hit the steps of Parliament (today) was further proof of the inequity in this tax.
“However, this affects every household, renter and business – the increase was on every property.
“That members of Parliament who supposedly represent this area like Jaclyn Symes and the Animal Justice Party’s Georgie Purcell voted for it is simply unbelievable.”
Mr Tilley said the tax hike was a bigoted attack on people who don’t vote Labor.
“I’ve asked the Minister in the past to tell us where the existing Fire Service Levy money goes and got crickets,” he said.
“Here they are renaming it and increasing the tax burden.
“We have some of the oldest firefighting equipment in the state, fire sheds that pre-date World War II and they say we’ll triple the rate you pay but can’t tell you where we spend it.
“This was a cynical attack on people who don’t vote Labor, ripping money off us to pay for their train station monuments and tunnels in Melbourne.”
Leader of the Opposition, Brad Battin, said the Labor government was once again using a heartless tax hike to plug its budget black hole.
“Only Labor could try and spin a massive land tax as support for volunteers,” Mr Battin said.
“This is not about emergency services, it’s about squeezing more cash from Victorians to pay for Labor’s budget blowouts.”
The VFF has added its voice to the outrage, saying it is deeply disappointed by the outcome and remains gravely concerned about the impact this levy will have on farmers, who are already under significant pressure from drought conditions and broader economic challenges.
“While the government has announced a 16 per cent reduction in the levy for farmers and a temporary pause for those in drought-declared areas, these concessions do little to ease the broader burden that will be felt across rural Victoria,” said VFF president, Brett Hosking.
“The sheer reality is that this levy will create a crippling financial burden to farmers.
“This decision shows a clear disconnect between our state government and the day-to-day realities faced by those on the land.”
This article appeared in Corryong Courier, 22 May 2025.
