General News
21 May, 2025
Rally on the steps of parliament
Unprecedented anger of CFA members, farmers, business owners and member of the community across the state of Victoria since the government's announcement of the new Emergency Services and Volunteer Levy has culminated in a rally at the steps of parliament on Tuesday May 20.
Thousands of Victorians in cars, buses and trains have headed to ground zero in Spring Street, Melbourne.
The new tax on ratepayers proposes to fund emergency services in Victoria meaning the volunteer CFA members of who many are farmers, will fund the service they volunteer for an thousands of dollars.
Rural advocate Andrew Weidermann siad, "The rural voters voted for a change of government at the May federal election and the city voters voted Labor back in so we need them, the city people, to know what is really happening so we'll take it to them.
"Just because the government with the support of the Greens and other minority parties voted the new ESVL in during the night, doesn't mean it's over.
"We are just getting started and Tuesday's rally is an opportunity for people to meet on the steps of parliament and send a clear message that we do not accept this government's treatment of the rural community," he said.
Hundreds of CFA units have gone offline and members have hung their yellow suits 'out to dry' in what they say is an example of what they believe this government has done to them in the tax hike across all households but in particular the rural community, many of them farmers and volunteers in the CFA
In the Wimmera, units from Beulah, Dadswells Bridge, Kaniva and Rainbow have gone off line and will be attending the rally in Melbourne.
In one of the most fire prone areas in the state, the Grampians, rocked by devastating fires in February 2024 and December 2024 continuing into January 2025, Dadswells Bridge CFA issued the following statement.
The Buloke Shire West CFA Brigade district 18 will hold no training, no tree hazards or burn over drill; CFA district 18 headquarters will take over control of the group.
The uniforms of dedicated volunteers in the CFA who have often volunteered for decades and across generations of one family have left their uniforms on the steps of parliament at previous protests in recent weeks and some even burning them to show their disgust at the tax hike.
In an example given by Hindmarsh Shire CEO Monica Revell at the recent community meeting at Winiam, conditions of the proposed levy would mean an additional $3 million from just the Hindmarsh Shire (Population 5660), taking the total to $5 million annually.
"Imagine the benefits this amount could bring if retained within our Shire," she said.
"The Government has mandated the Shires to collect this money for them through our rates system and employ debt collectors to recover unpaid amount."
The Victorian Treasurer acknowledged farmers’ concerns and said amendments were made before the vote to ease the levy increases, reducing the planned rise from 189 per cent to 150 per cent.
The government has also introduced rebate schemes for volunteers and farmers in drought-affected areas.
However, these rebates require payment of the full levy upfront before the rebate is paid.
While there were some small adjustments to the original bill, it has done little to appease an angry community.
