Blake Lee, The Buloke Times

Thousands of firefighters, farmers and regional Victorians rallied on the steps of State Parliament on Tuesday, May 20, protesting the newly passed Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund.

The Allan government passed the Bill just before 2 a.m. last Friday morning after a marathon sitting of parliament, following a deal with the Greens and Animal Justice Party.

Volunteers rally from across the state

Producing a cacophony of sirens through Melbourne streets during peak hour, fire trucks and volunteer firefighters made the journey from all corners of the state, bringing an estimated 300 fire trucks into the city.

Many attendees left their homes in the early hours of the morning to have their voices heard outside Spring Street, arriving via bus, train and car.

“Scrap the tax” was the message echoed throughout the rally, shouted in powerful unison.

What is the ESVF?

The Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF), or “tax” as referred to those in attendance at the rally, is set to replace the existing Fire Services Property Levy – but will now fund services including VICSES, Triple Zero Victoria, the State Control Centre, Forest Fire Management Victoria and Emergency Recovery Victoria, as well as the previously funded Country Fire Authority (CFA) and Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV).

“Not only is this tax wrong, it’s $5 billion that will be ripped from the community to retire debt,” Peter Marshall, secretary of the United Fire Fighters Union said at the rally.

“We want it (the levy) to be rescinded, we want a parliamentary inquiry, and we certainly don’t want farmers being pushed to the brink where they can no longer do it any longer.”

The government said the levy will give “hardworking emergency services the funding and equipment they need – so that communities can respond and recover from floods, fires and storms.”

It also promised to guarantee in legislation that 95 per cent of VICSES and CFA funding will come from the ESVF, and 90 per cent of FRV’s annual funding will come from the levy.

$110 million of the funds raised from the levy will deliver a rolling fleet replacement program for VICSES, the CFA and Fire Rescue Victoria.

New model

“This new funding model is giving our incredible emergency service workers and volunteers the modern equipment they need to help keep communities safe,” Emergency Services Minister Vicki Ward said.

All ratepayers will be affected by the new levy, which includes a fixed charge along with an amount calculated using a property’s improved capital value, which means the land plus any structures built on it. Local councils will be responsible for collecting the levy on behalf of the state government.

For example, under the new levy, farmers will be charged a fixed fee plus 71.8 cents for every $1,000 of their property’s improved value – a significant increase from the current 28.7 cents. Residential property owners will also see their rate nearly double, from 8.7 cents to 17.3 cents per $1,000.

Many farmers will face annual increases of thousands of dollars, adding to already substantial financial pressures due to drought and rising living costs.

Farmers and volunteers respond

Jacinta Allan last week slightly eased the levy that farmers are required to pay from a planned 189 per cent increase, to 150 per cent.

But farmers and volunteer firefighters say the government has got it wrong.

“What we’re asking here as a community that’s come together from all walks of life – and indeed we’ve had our differences in the past – is that we’re saying very clearly to this government and the cross benches who voted for it: ‘you have got it wrong’,” Marshall said.

“They argue that the surplus delivered in Tuesday’s budget is coming directly from their pockets through the funds that are set to be paid through the levy.

“All of a sudden you have a $500 million surplus in this budget. Where did it come from? This tax.”

Brad Battin, Victorian Opposition Leader, said that the Liberals will promise to get rid of the levy if elected next year.

“If we are elected in November next year, the Victorian Liberals will scrap the tax,” he said.

Pressure mounts on Government

The Allan Government has promised to give emergency services volunteers access to a rebate on their principal place of residence or farm. Volunteers can apply for the rebate after paying the levy in full.

Volunteers include active VICSES and CFA, Operational and Support Volunteers who have served for at least 12 months, passed probation and have not been suspended or taken extended leave in the past year.

Pensioners, veterans and single farm enterprises will continue to receive concessions.

Victorian Farmers Federation President, Brett Hosking, highlighted the burden that the levy will have on farmers already doing it tough.

“We’ve got farmers who have walked away from their businesses today to come and be here,” Mr. Hosking said.

“They should be carting water for drought-stricken livestock, sowing crops, shearing, feeding sheep.

“It’s incredible that every summer our CFA volunteers walk away from their businesses to go and defend their communities.

“Today there’s another fire coming for your businesses and what’s really good is that you’re standing here defending your businesses, your communities and your families,” he said.

Kaniva farmer, John Bennett, spoke at the rally on the importance of volunteers to small country towns.

“Volunteering and co-operation are deeply embedded in farming communities. This unjust tax threatens to unwind that spirit of co-operation,” he said.

In Buloke

Buloke represenatives Shire Council Mayor, Alan Getley, told the “Buloke Times” that the council strongly opposes the levy.

“It’s going to affect everybody – every ratepayer, every renter, every business,” he said.

“Buloke ourselves have met with the local government minister, made our views pretty clear and supported motions through the Municipal Association of Victoria and the Rural Councils Victoria opposing the new levy.

“We’ll keep advocating strongly that this tax doesn’t happen and we (Buloke Shire Council) don’t want to see it happen.”

Councillor Getley reassured residents that there are still enough emergency service vehicles in place if they are required to attend emergencies.

“The Birchip, Donald and Charlton brigades are still here if need be, and the Shire water tankers are full and ready to go… we’ve made sure that they’re full and on standby if water is needed for any emergency,” he said.

From Brim

Farmers Bev. and Colin Appledore made the journey from Brim and have been volunteer firefighters for over 50 years.

“The tax on farmers is a lot more than anyone else has to pay and we’re the ones going out and fighting the fires,” Bev said.

“We’ve had enough of the unfair tax and had to come down to protest and get our voices heard.”

Premier Jacinta Allan remains firm in her position to introduce the levy, claiming that it is necessary to fund emergency services.

“We’ve taken that existing levy and expanded it to provide them (emergency services) with that additional support,” she said at a press conference on Tuesday.

Calls for inquiry and ongoing protest

As tow trucks removed fire trucks from outside Parliament House and other major city streets, firefighters and farmers vowed that this would not be the end of their fight. With further protest activities planned, pressure on the Allan government to overturn the levy is far from over.

This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 23 May 2025.