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Coalition Government Releases Consultation Paper For New Fire Services Funding Model The Victorian Coalition Government has released a community consultation paper for the design and implementation of a fairer, more equitable system to fund fire services in Victoria. By Russell Northe - 11th July 2011 - Back to News Nationals Member for Morwell Russell Northe said the consultation paper was the first step in introducing a significant and long-overdue reform to ensure Victoria‟s fire services were appropriately funded. The Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission recommended that „the State replace the Fire Services Levy with a property-based levy and introduce concessions for low-income earners‟. Mr Northe said the Coalition Government had adopted all Bushfires Royal Commission recommendations. "The Coalition Government will introduce a new levy that at long last ensures all Victorian property owners pay a fair contribution to the state‟s fire services, while ensuring Victoria‟s fire services continue to operate with sufficient resources. "The Fire Services Levy (FSL) should have been scrapped by the former Labor Government years ago. Until just prior to the election, Labor refused to listen to the concerns of Victorians calling for the FSL to be abandoned," Mr Northe said. "Every Victorian understands the need to have well-funded fire fighting services and the release of the consultation paper is an important step in implementing this new approach." Mr Northe said the options paper set out the Coalition Government‟s proposal to replace the current funding model with a new property-based fire services levy. "I encourage all interested community members to read the consultation paper and make a submission to inform the final design and implementation for the new FSL," Mr Northe said. The consultation paper is available at www.dtf.vic.gov.au, and submissions close on 30 September 2011. The Coalition Government intends to introduce legislation in early 2012. There will be a transition period that will commence on 1 July 2012 to allow insurers to phase out the FSL prior to full implementation from 1 July 2013.
Media: Russell Northe 0408 22 55 23 / Julia Auciello 5133 9088
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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