Fury over fire levy

A PETITION calling for the state government’s controversial Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF) to be overturned has reached 37,000 signatures as local firefighters, farmers and councils continue to voice their opposition to the legislation.

The new levy, to be charged alongside council rates, replaces the cheaper fire services levy and will raise funds for the state’s emergency services.

But concerns about the increased financial burden the levy will place on ratepayers, already embattled businesses and farmers, has sparked outrage and protests across the state, including in Geelong’s CBD last week.

Earlier this month, Geelong mayor Stretch Kontelj expressed his disappointment that the Greens had supported the legislation.

The City, along with representatives of five nearby councils, met with Upper House MP Sarah Mansfield to urge her to vote against the legislation ahead of its passing.

“As a former Greater Geelong councillor, I had hoped she would stand up for ratepayers in opposing this levy,” Cr Kontelj said.

“Primary producers paid an average of $1145 for the fire service levy in 2024-25, and under the ESVF, will be charged $2521. This is an increase of more than $1300 for the average farmer and some will face bills as high as $40,000.

“This will force the closure of some businesses and farms, which is not acceptable.”

But Victorian Greens leader Ellen Sandall has defended her party’s support of the legislation, saying that in doing so it had secured changes to make the levy fairer, including exemptions for farmers experiencing hardship and amendments ensuring the money raised through the levy cannot be used to fund government administration.

“With increased bushfires, floods and droughts, we need fully funded emergency services to keep us all safe, so we don’t face a horrific situation like the LA fires,” she said.

“Labor’s original levy had some serious problems, so the Greens pushed for significant changes. These changes mean farmers experiencing hardship from drought will be exempt from the increased levy, firefighters will have proper secure and ongoing funding including to replace their ageing trucks, and amendments will ensure every dollar goes to emergency services and can’t be spent to plug government budget holes.”