Regional families and farmers are bearing the brunt of the Allan Labor Government’s Emergency Services Tax, with local councils forced to rip millions more from communities already struggling under the weight of rising living costs.
The Nationals’ Member for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland, said the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF) would add enormous financial pressure to ratepayers across the region, as rates notices begin landing in mailboxes this month.
“In Benalla, ratepayers are now set to fork out 81 per cent more under this new tax. In Strathbogie, it’s even worse – a staggering 91 per cent increase,” Ms Cleeland said.
“This is not just a tweak to the system. This is a brutal cash grab from regional households, farmers, and small businesses already doing it tough.”
Ms Cleeland said she was particularly concerned about the impact on local businesses facing up to 100 per cent increases, warning that some may be crippled under the weight of the new tax.
“The timing couldn’t be worse. Rates notices are arriving this month and businesses are bracing for the hit – some will struggle to absorb a doubling of their bill,” Ms Cleeland said.
The ESVF replaces the existing Fire Services Property Levy and has been widely criticised as a “land tax by stealth,” with property owners now paying significantly more, and in many cases without any clarity about where that money is going.
“Every single person who pays rates will be hit by this tax, but the real sting is felt in our country towns, where residents are already volunteering their time with the CFA and SES,” Ms Cleeland said.
“Many of these same volunteers are now being forced to pay hundreds or even thousands more in rates, all while the services they support are stretched thinner than ever.”
Ms Cleeland said the impact would be long-lasting unless the State Government reverses course.
“Local councils are being used as tax collectors for a government that refuses to fund core emergency services properly through the state budget,” Ms Cleeland said.
“The worst part is that regional communities are footing the bill while getting no say, no certainty, and no guarantee that this money will flow to frontline services in their area.”
Ms Cleeland reaffirmed that a Liberals and Nationals Government would scrap the ESVF and return to a fairer system.
“We will scrap this unfair tax, reinstate the Fire Services Property Levy, and make sure that funding for emergency services is delivered transparently through the State Budget,” Ms Cleeland said.
“Our rural communities deserve better than to be punished for where they live.
“They deserve a government that supports them and not one that keeps coming back to squeeze more from their rates notice.”
