Cleeland calls for long-term rate relief and levy exemptions for fire-affected communities

The Nationals Member for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland, has called on the Allan Labor Government to deliver three years of rate relief, exemptions from the Emergency Services and Volunteers Tax, and permit exemptions for residents rebuilding after the Longwood bushfire.

Three months on from the devastating fire, Ms Cleeland said fire-affected communities across the region were still in the early stages of recovery, and without meaningful financial relief and reduced red tape, many would struggle to rebuild.

“Families, farmers and small businesses are doing everything they can to get back on their feet, but they are being weighed down by ongoing costs and delays that are completely out of step with the reality on the ground,” Ms Cleeland said.

“People have lost homes, fencing, livestock and livelihoods. Recovery is not just about clearing a block, it is about rebuilding a life, and that takes time.”

Ms Cleeland said a minimum three-year package of rate relief and ESVF exemptions was essential to give communities the breathing room they need.

“We cannot treat this like a short-term disruption. For many families, this will take years to recover from, not months,” she said.

“Continuing to charge council rates and emergency services taxes on properties that have been destroyed is not just unreasonable, it is completely disconnected from what people are going through.”

Ms Cleeland also called for immediate permit exemptions and fast-tracked planning approvals to remove barriers for those trying to rebuild.

“The last thing anyone needs after losing their home is to be stuck in a bureaucratic maze trying to get approval to rebuild it,” she said.

“We have seen permit exemptions and streamlined planning processes delivered after disasters right across Victoria over the past decade. There is a clear precedent, and there is no reason it should not be applied here.”

Ms Cleeland said without decisive action, there is a real risk that some families and businesses may not return.

“In regional communities, rebuilding means restoring entire livelihoods, not just a house. That includes farms, stock, infrastructure and local businesses,” she said.

“If we want people to stay, to rebuild, and to keep these communities alive, the Allan Labor Government must step up and back them in.”

Ms Cleeland said the response must be consistent, fair and long-term, ensuring no fire-affected community is left behind.

“This is about giving people certainty, cutting the red tape, and making sure recovery is actually possible,” she said.

“I am calling on the Allan Labor Government to act now and deliver the support these communities need to rebuild and recover.”