General News
11 June, 2025
In my paddock: Kate Cross
The last fortnight has been filled with a steady determination - groups around the state coming together in halls and sheds- a quiet frustration finally overflowing across the state.
The last fortnight has been filled with a steady determination - groups around the state coming together in halls and sheds- a quiet frustration finally overflowing across the state.
Driving from Kaniva to Dimboola, to Natimuk and beyond the roads are scattered with flashes of yellow and red, utes adorned with signs, words of frustration strung up on straw bales, a proudly worn CFA uniform hangs limp over a road sign.
A community united; a community that’s had enough. The Emergency Services and Vounteer Fund (aka Tax) a now common cause uniting not only the Hindmarsh and Wimmera region but that of all our regional families.
As I watch for the next fleck of yellow along the highway I wonder; how was it ever allowed to get this far? How did this state sink so far in debt that the Allen Government saw fit to throw in another tax?
One that will take money and spending away from our local communities, our local sporting clubs, our local schools and business and one that will charge our volunteers to do a job that they’ve already been committed to.
Dear Jacinta, I think it’s time you met us.
The one per cent that feeds your state, those that work tirelessly around the clock - we who jump when you say how high and those In desperate drought support. Life’s kinda tough at the moment incase you havnt ventures to far from the city recently.
We pay taxes, follow the red tape, complete harvest declarations, on farm audits and animal health accreditations. You’ve thrown “sustainability” projects at us, seized control of land that’s been farmed for generations to hand to mining companies. You’ve been splitting communities not building a state and as farmers we’ve been resilient - you’ve bitten off a little more than you can chew this time and now your state has had enough.
Jacinta, are you listening to your people? I feel as if we stepped into your office (if you’d actually even allow us to get in there) that our words would fall on ignorant ears was the rally on parliament steps not enough to show you how significantly you will affect the people in regional Victoria? (Are you deliberately trying to disband us ? Do you need us to make more noise? If so challenge accepted)
Jacinta, I may be a small fish in the big scheme of things but in my current role I am most fortunate to know a number of young farmers, like myself, and even younger, taking on generational farms and starting from scratch. Our crops are growing in dry while we still wait for our seasonally average break, the lack of a 2024 spring hasn’t set this season to plan. While passion and dedication is important it doesn’t pay the bills- we’ve been feeding sheep for months, the fires have burned infrastructure, cost of living, inflation and increased interest rates have consumed our budgets. So tell me Jacinta, when we’ve budgeted for all our inputs (and then some), when margins are slimmer than ever, where do you expect us to find the extra pennies to cover this tax?
How clever do we need to be to make this work and how do you expect us to push our productivity to cover the costs of this levy on the back of a year where budgets are blowing out and Huey isn’t playing the game. Tell me Jacinta, do you expect us to crawl into the rabbit hole that is debt with you?
Can you not imagine this impact? The stress and mental health. Your regional people sitting tearing their hair out looking over costs, production plans, feed budgets and input costs- trying to keep afloat wondering if they can send the kids to school, can they afford groceries, how can I make the next loan replacement? Can we salvage the season and go another year?
Do you want These young farmers coming through the system? Because this levy is not only throwing them under the bus, but their families and surrounding communities. We work hard and we love what we do but this tax slap is reverberating around your state and yet you cannot see it.
Dear Jacinta,
I invite you to come to regional Victoria and listen because this state is part of a democracy, not a dictatorship.