“An absolute crime”: Firefighters, farmers protest new tax

SIRENS howled through the streets of Geelong’s CBD on Tuesday as farmers, firefighters and other emergency service personnel staged a rally against the Victorian government’s controversial Emergency Services Volunteer fund (ESVF).

Passed through parliament last week, the new levy has sparked outrage from local residents and councils, with farmers expected to be among those hardest hit.

Fire trucks and emergency service vehicles from as far as Apollo Bay and Wye River travelled to Geelong to be a part of the protest this week, with a convoy leaving the Batesford Roadhouse just after 10am.

Arriving in the CBD about 10.30am, the convoy circled the streets surrounding the offices of upper house MPs Sarah Mansfield (Greens) and Gayle Tierney (Labor) several times, as onlookers cheered and shouted encouragement.

Speaking at the rally, City of Greater Geelong councillor Trent Sullivan called on the region’s councils to “send a message” and refuse to collect the levy, which some fear will force the closure of already embattled businesses across the state.

“The fact that the state government has put forth this levy that is hitting those in the hardest positions right now, in a cost-of-living crisis, is an absolute crime.

“We have farmers out there who are on the verge of going broke, we’ve got businesses in Geelong that will see their levy go up by on average $500 per business, and every single resident across this state will be paying more.”

The city has been a vocal opponent of the levy, with Geelong mayor Stretch Kontelj last week blasting the tax as “unfair and unjustified”.

“I urge all community members to contact their state MPs to make their feelings known, and I hope this legislation will be overturned,” he said.

Firefighter and United Firefighters Union member Mark Sinkinson said the state government had failed to “read the room”.

“We need to let the government know that there’s got to be another way to do this. Yes, the emergency services need funding, and we need it critically – we need it right now.

“Commit to doing it and do it properly, but don’t tax those that are doing the job.”

Ms Tierney said more resources were needed to “deal with issues that confront our communities, whether it be fire, bushfires, flooding, high wind, storms”.

“We need the resources to deal with an battle those things that are thrown at us; there is broad recognition that happens.

“Of course, we’ve made sure that volunteers are absolutely exempt from this levy.”

In response to the protests against the ESVF, she added: “We live in a democracy and people have a right to have their voices promulgated.

“I just hope we have the fortitude in all of us to make sure that we do have the resources we need right across the state to combat the climate change events that face our communities.”