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Danny O'Brien warns Gippslanders of higher taxes as Emergency Services levy replaces Fire Services levy, raising rates

Gippslanders will face higher taxes with the new Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy, increasing rates for homeowners, farmers, and businesses, funding emergency services but lacking transparency in spending allocation.

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

Gippslanders can expect another financial hit from the Allan Labor Government in the form of an increased tax on their 2025 rates notice. The Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF) levy will be added to local rates bill from 1 July 2025, replacing the Fire Services Property Levy (FSL) at a much higher rate.

Danny O'Brien welcomed CFA volunteer exemption from the ESVF but expressed concern over significant tax increases for Gippsland farmers, landowners, and businesses

Emergency services levy

The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O'Brien said Gippsland homeowners can now expect to pay 17.3 cents for every $1000 in Capital Improved Value - up from 8.7 cents. "This is an expanded tax that is being used to force Gippslanders to pay for what should be core government services like Triple 0 and Emergency Management Victoria."

"We are being told that the increase of almost 100 percent will be used to fund up to 95 percent of all emergency services operations. Using a levy to pay for more services means there will be less transparency on where and how money is spent and we can be sure the CFA will again miss out," Mr O'Brien said.

CFA funding concerns

Mr O'Brien said a lack of transparency was extremely concerning, especially when we have already seen local brigades like Winnindoo and Mirboo North CFAs be mucked around under the current arrangements.

"Mirboo North CFA was told it would be receiving capital funding from the CFA in 2022 only to have those funds later withdrawn. And Winnindoo CFA have just been told to wait at least another year after already waiting five years for its new station," Mr O'Brien said.

CFA volunteers exempted

Mr O'Brien said that there was a small win in that The Nationals calls for CFA volunteers to be exempted from the FSL has been heeded with an announcement from the State Government that volunteers will be exempt from the ESVF.

"While I am pleased to see that CFA volunteers will not be hit by this exorbitant new tax, I remain concerned for the rest of Gippsland families and farmers who are already doing it tough. Our CFA brigades need to be resourced appropriately, but the answer cannot be to take from those who are already struggling," Mr O'Brien said.

Gippsland tax concerns

Mr O'Brien said he was particularly concerned for Gippsland farmers as commercial, industrial and primary production landowners face increases of 100 percent, 64 percent, and 189 percent more respectively.

"The ESVF represents an additional $2.1 billion in taxes under Labor's latest grab. Gippslanders deserve better than higher taxes to prop up Labor's failures. Gippslanders are again paying the price because Labor can't manage money," concluded Mr O'Brien.

Pictures from Foster Fire Brigade Facebook page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com