The Nationals have launched a “Scrap The Tax” campaign aimed at killing off Labor’s emergency services tax – a tax that is set to hurt farmers, property owners, and volunteers across the state.
Under Labor’s Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund (ESVF), households will see their rates almost double, commercial rates will increase by 100 per cent, industrial rates by 64 per cent, and farmers will face a staggering 189 per cent increase compared to what they paid under the previous levy.
Despite these major rate increases, the tax is unlikely to see local CFA brigades and SES units receive the additional funding they so badly need.
Funds raised by the tax are instead set to be shared with core government services such as Triple Zero, Forest Fire Management Victoria, and Emergency Management Victoria – services that are already receiving significant taxpayer funding.
With drought and rising costs already making it harder to stay afloat, this new tax will hit farm businesses and our regional communities hard.
We will keep up the fight and hope the community can voice their frustrations too through our Scrap the Tax campaign before the next sitting week in May.
I encourage residents across the state to share their concerns about the tax by visiting scrapthetax.com.au and sending a protest message directly to the Victorian Treasurer.
My office can also be contacted at annabelle.cleeland@parliament.vic.gov.au or 03 5762 1600 to share any concerns.
