The Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund — which is due to begin in July and replaces the current Fire Services Property Levy — is expected to sweep up millions of extra dollars through local government.
VFF president Brett Hosking said the proposed tax hike was unfair and had sparked unity among farmers, firefighters, regional councils and Victoria’s business community, who are all campaigning against the tax and calling for it to be dumped.
“This tax is unfair, unnecessary and completely out of step with what Victorians expect from their government,” Mr Hosking said.
“It’s time for the community to raise their voice and let politicians know they won’t stand for yet another hit to the household and business bottom line.”
With the legislation yet to pass the Legislative Council and set to be revisited in the coming weeks, the VFF is calling on concerned Victorians to contact their local upper house MPs to voice their opposition and demand a vote against the bill.
“This tax has no support, not from the fire services, not from local councils and not from the people who’ll be forced to pay it,” Mr Hosking said.
“The upper house has the chance to stop it in its tracks, but they need to hear loud and clear from the people they represent.”
Rather than introducing a new layer of tax, the VFF is urging the Victorian Government to focus on fixing the current Fire Services Property Levy system by introducing CPI caps, protecting households from levy shock due to inflated land values, and ensuring regional communities aren’t overcharged for the services they provide as volunteers.
“Don’t burn regional Victoria with more taxes,” Mr Hosking said.
“We encourage everyone to contact their MPs this week and make their voice heard.”
More information, including a letter template to contact your local MP, can be found at: https://www.vff.org.au/we-need-your-help-stop-the-unfair-fire-services-levy/
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