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South Gippsland Mayor, John Schelling slams new emergency services tax as unfair burden on regional communities and farmers

South Gippsland Mayor John Schelling says Victoria's new emergency services tax unfairly targets regional communities, especially farmers, and urges fairer funding through consolidated revenue, not increased burdens on country ratepayers.

By news@gippsland - 16th May 2025 - Back to News

A statement from South Gippsland Shire Council Mayor, John Schelling, "Late last night, the Victorian government passed its controversial Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF) following last-minute deals with crossbench MPs. This new fund - or tax, as it should rightly be called - will unfairly impact regional Victoria, particularly our farmers, who will bear a disproportionate share of the tax burden.

South Gippsland Council opposes the tax, supports emergency volunteers, and proposes lower farm rates to ease farmer burden

Support, not surcharge

Let me be clear: South Gippsland Shire Council strongly supports our emergency services. We recognise the vital role they play in keeping communities safe. However, we do not support a funding model that unfairly targets country Victorians. Rather than shifting costs onto ratepayers, the Victorian government should prioritise its spending and fund emergency services through consolidated revenue.

While negotiations with the crossbench delivered a few modest concessions - including a token reduction in the tax increase for primary producers from an exorbitant 189 percent to a still excessive 150 percent - this is cold comfort for regional communities already doing it tough.

Farmers face burden

A large number of emergency service members - many of whom are primary producers - are voicing their dissatisfaction with the new tax. South Gippsland Shire Council stands with them. Under this legislation, local councils will be responsible for collecting this tax via rates notices - effectively making us the Victorian government's reluctant tax collectors.

In an effort to provide some relief for primary producers, this year's draft council budget has proposed to reduce agricultural rates by lowering the farm differential from 70 to 65 percent. While this won't undo the damage of the new levy, it's a step toward supporting our farmers during what has already been one of the driest autumns on record. This new tax may be well-intentioned, but for country Victoria, it's yet another blow. We deserve better.

Pictures from South Gippsland Shire Council website.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com