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Melina Bath says Labor's doubled emergency services levy increases financial burden on Victorians amid state debt, cost-of-living crisis

The Allan Labor government's new Emergency Services Levy doubles the tax burden on struggling Victorians, with increased rates for homeowners, farmers, and businesses, while failing to properly fund emergency services.

By news@gippsland - 16th December 2024 - Back to News

The Allan Labor government has announced a doubling and rebranding of the Fire Services Levy in another Christmas tax grab. The Nationals' Melina Bath said the new Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund (ESVF) marks Labor's 57th new or increased tax from a state government that cannot manage money. "Victoria's books are in terrible shape, plummeting further into the red, with state debt on track to surpass $187 billion," she said.

The Allan Labor government doubles and rebrands the Fire Services Levy as ESVF, marking its 57th tax hike. Melina Bath criticises rising state debt projected to surpass $187 billion

Labor's cost burden

Ms Bath said, "In addition to the CFA and SES, Labor says the ESVF will fund government agencies including Triple Zero, the State Control Centre and Emergency Management Victoria but these are core services that existing tax revenue is supposed to pay for. Struggling Victorian home and property owners will be further penalised during a cost-of-living crisis, Labor simply can't keep its hands out of the wallets of everyday Victorians."

"Treasurer Tim Pallas has announced he is quitting politics, jumping off the Premier's sinking ship, Jacinta Allan should admit culpability and go too. CFA volunteers I have spoken with are angry that there is no detail about how much they will actually receive from Labor's cash grab," she said.

Victorian homeowners can now expect to pay 17.3 cents for every $1000 in Capital Improved Value - up from 8.7 cents. Commercial, industrial and farmers face increases of 100 per cent, 64 per cent, and 189 per cent respectively.

Levy hits communities

Ms Bath said the Allan Labor government expects to raise more than $2.1 billion through its new levy, with the collection responsibility passed onto Councils through household rates. "Our emergency services such as the CFA have continually been shortchanged by Labor. Instead of being properly resourced the CFA has been hit with budget cuts while hardworking emergency volunteers have been forced to fundraise to pay for vital equipment."

"After cutting tens of millions of dollars from Triple Zero, the SES and CFA to pay for Melbourne's mismanaged big build, it's incomprehensible that Labor has imposed this levy to fund core government services. Labor can't manage emergency services, can't manage money and Victorians are paying the price," concluded Ms Bath.

Pictures from Mirboo North CFA Facebook page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com