General News
30 May, 2025
Mayors outraged about levy
The Horsham Rural City Council joined councils across Victoria with a statement opposing the state government's new Emergency Service Volunteer Levy at the May ordinary meeting of council.
Yarriambiack, West Wimmera, Northern Grampians, Buloke, and Hindmarsh councils have issued similar statements.
They are unanimous in their opposition to the Emergency Service Volunteer Fund as it stands with its increased rate compared to the levy it replaces, and do not accept that councils should be 'tax collectors' for a state government tax.
Mayor Ian Ross addressed a full gallery of yellow uniformed CFA personnel at the council meeting and said, "We stand shoulder to shoulder with our neighboring councils.
"...This new levy will have a devastating impact on our community," he said.
"Horsham’s ratepayers are facing one of the highest increases in the state, with a projected $3.26 million uplift in levy charges - a rise of more than 84 per cent.
"This is a significant burden, particularly for our rural residents and primary producers, who are already under immense pressure from rising costs and ongoing economic challenges."
Cr Ross said HRCC would oppose councils being used as levy collectors on behalf of the state, shifting responsibility for collecting the levy to the State Revenue Office
The mayor said the state government should fully reimburse councils for the administrative and financial costs of collection and enforcement, ensure transparency, open communication, and consultation moving forward.
"...Most importantly, deliver a levy that is fair, equitable, and does not unfairly burden rural and farming communities," he said.
"This is not just a question of fairness - it’s a matter of respect for rural Victorians and the role local government plays in supporting them."
Cr Ross said the new levy was a grossly unfair impost on rural people.
"At a time when rural communities are facing a serious drought, to see the government imposing this new tax is hard to believe," he said.
Cr Ross said HRCC doesn't want to collect the tax but is required to by legislation; however, the council will identify the levy from rates in separate entries on rate notices so "our ratepayers can identify the levy from council rates."
Cr Ross said 90 percent of the capital value the levy is calculated on for the new levy, "doesn't burn.
"Dirt doesn't burn," he said.
The West Wimmera Shire Council voted unanimously to oppose the State Government’s Emergency Service Volunteers Fund, branding it an unfair tax on rural communities.
Mayor Tim Meyer said the tax was an unjustified cash grab by the Labor government.
“This is nothing more than a rural tax,” he said.
“The Emergency Service Volunteers Fund punishes the very communities that rely most heavily on volunteer emergency services – people who already give their time, energy, and resources freely to protect lives and property.
“To ask local councils to collect this levy is offensive.
"This tax is not welcome here. It’s time to rescind it and stop taking rural communities for granted.
The Northern Grampians Shire Council supported its residents, particularly its farmers, by joining an overwhelming call for the State Government to ‘scrap’ the ESVF.
Mayor Karen Hyslop said she was full of outrage and disbelief following the passing of the Fire Services Property Amendment (Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund) Bill 2025.
She said she was deeply concerned about the effects the new tax would have on residents’ capacity to pay, the council’s ability to collect it, and the region’s already-stressed economy.
Cr Hyslop said the municipality was expected to contribute $2.3 million to the fund, with farmers collectively contributing an additional 137% compared to the previous year.
“... farmers are currently also paying to cart water, feed stock – some can’t even afford to pay themselves a wage right now, and yet, the government is demanding they pay more and more – it's outrageous," she said.
“They know this tax is unpopular, that people won’t want to pay it, and they are pushing the burden of collection and chasing up missed payments onto councils, which are already stretched as it is.
"Businesses in Halls Gap are in recovery mode, and although the government has finally announced the guidelines for recovery money, it is way short of what we were hoping for and what they need.
“For these businesses, particularly if they own their shop, the ESVF just isn't fair.
Cr Hyslop encouraged anyone struggling with mental health to look out for one another or call Lifeline on 13 11 14."
The Yarriambiack Shire Council's statement said the ESVF was a 150% tax hike on some rural landholders, when compared to the Fire Services Levy it is designed to replace.
This is despite a complete lack of guarantees regarding how (or where) the new money will be spent.
“This new levy will hit Victorian farmers the hardest. How does that make any sense after years of drought and amid a cost-of-living crisis?” a statement said.
“At the very least, this new tax burden should be shared equally amongst all Victorian landholders."
The Hindmarsh Shire Council expressed serious concern about legislation.
Hindmarsh Shire Council mayor Ron Ismay said farmers should not bear the burden of the levy.
“We have been actively advocating for our community since this proposal was first introduced, working with Rural Councils Victoria, the Municipal Association of Victoria, local community action groups, and State Government representatives to call for what is fair," he said.
“Our community is full of emergency services volunteers, including a significant number of farmers who will be most impacted, sacrificing their time and safety to keep the community, and state and local government assets safe – they should not bear the majority of the burden of this new charge.”
At the Buloke Shire Council's May Ordinary Meeting, Cr Getley moved a successful motion that council would write to the Victorian Premier, Jacinta Allan, Minister for Emergency Services, Vicki Ward, and Treasurer Jaclyn Sykes, condemning the introduction of the Emergency Services and Volunteers Levy.
"Our small rural Shire is experiencing very difficult cost-of-living pressures, farmers suffering drought conditions, and small businesses struggling; this levy will only increase the stress on our entire community," he said.
"We call on the State Government to exclude the Buloke Shire Council from administering or collecting the levy, and this process to be handled by the State Revenue Office."
