Gippsland › Latest news › Tim Bull MP

Tim Bull slams Labor's emergency services tax hike hitting farmers, regional communities and councils the hardest

Gippsland MP Tim Bull condemns Labor's new emergency services tax, warning it unfairly targets farmers, ratepayers and councils to cover state debt, with some facing hikes up to 189 percent.

By news@gippsland - 5th May 2025 - Back to News

Regional communities and farmers are set to be hit hardest by the Allan Labor government's Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund, with some facing payment hikes of up to 189 per cent. Gippsland East MP, Tim Bull, slams the "tax grab" which will punish those who can least afford it, despite the Treasurer recently stating the new tax targets "those who can afford it."

Tim Bull says the latest tax grab from the Allan Labor government will push hard-working families to the brink if it successful in implementing the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund

Questioning new tax

Mr Bull said, "Pleasingly the proposal has also been opposed by East Gippsland and Wellington Shire Councils and Rural Councils Victoria. The government says the tax is to fund agencies like the State Emergency Service and Triple Zero Victoria and while no one opposes these agencies and the great job they do, the reality is they were previously funded through general revenue."

"The Allan Labor government now plans to raise $2 billion over three years via the new tax, a move that is more about plugging Labor's debt than improving services. If every dollar is going to emergency services as claimed, where is the money that used to fund them from general revenue now being spent?" he asked.

Stop unfair tax

Mr Bull added, "This new tax is to free up cash to pay down Labor's skyrocketing debt which is forecast to hit $187 billion by next year, and the government expects property owners to pay for its financial incompetence. It's not just farmers who'll be slugged, it will impact on every ratepayer. It also puts the collection burden on local councils, who will wrongly bear the brunt of criticism when it is not a council charge," Mr Bull said.

Mr Bull welcomed the recent rejection in the Upper House of the Bill that implements this massive tax increase, saying regional Victorians had been given a reprieve, but it is by no means dead and will again be debated when Parliament resumes. "We need to stop this tax before it pushes honest and hard-working families to the brink," Mr Bull said.

Pictures from Tim Bull MP website.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com