Gippsland › Latest news › Danny O'Brien MP

Danny O'Brien urged Gippslanders join campaign against Labor's emergency services tax, impacting farmers and businesses

Gippslanders are urged to oppose the new emergency services tax, with Danny O'Brien leading the "Scrap The Tax" campaign, calling it a sneaky revenue grab that burdens households, farmers, and businesses.

By news@gippsland - 17th April 2025 - Back to News

Gippslanders are being urged to send a message to the Allan Labor government to dump the controversial new emergency services tax. The Nationals Member for Gippsland South and Shadow Minister for Emergency Services, Danny O'Brien has launched the "Scrap The Tax" campaign aimed at killing off Labor's latest hit on hardworking Gippslanders.

Danny O'Brien has launched the "Scrap The Tax" campaign to stop Labor's proposed emergency services tax, calling it a cash grab

Labor's tax impact

Mr O'Brien said, "The emergency services tax, a sneaky and callous cash grab will be Labor's 60th new or increased tax if it is introduced as planned on July 1. We plan to stop it happening. The window to strike is now, with a vote in Parliament on the new tax deferred until next month. We need the help of all regional Victorians. Visit Scrap the Tax website and send your protest message to the Treasurer, Jaclyn Symes."

The impact of this tax makes for ugly reading:

• Households will pay almost double
• Costs will be passed on to renters
• Commercial rates to increase by 100 percent
• Industrial rates will soar by 64 percent
• Farmers face a painful 189 percent rise

Mr O'Brien said this tax will rip $2.1 billion out of Victorians' pockets over the next three years to help pay for backroom staff in the city - not improving frontline emergency services.

Scrap Labor's tax

Mr O'Brien said, "I've heard from many constituents across Gippsland South already struggling under the burden of Labor's taxes including big increases in land tax. This latest tax grab is not about emergency services, it's a sneaky attempt to raise extra revenue because Labor can't manage money and it is Gippslanders who will pay the price.

"This really is an insidious tax and Labor was hoping it could sneak this through Parliament and creep up on everybody - we won't allow that to happen. This tax should never see the light of day. It should be scrapped," concluded Mr O'Brien.

Pictures from The Nationals for Regional Victoria YouTube channel.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com