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Danny O'Brien and Liberal Nationals pledged to scrap Labor's emergency services levy, restore fairer fire services funding model

The Liberals and Nationals will scrap Labor's costly Emergency Services Property Levy, restoring a fairer model that supports emergency services without punishing homeowners, farmers, and small businesses already struggling.

By news@gippsland - 20th May 2025 - Back to News

The Nationals and Liberals will scrap Labor's Emergency Services Property Levy (ESVF) - a tax that rips $765 million a year from Victorian families, farmers and small businesses under the guise of supporting emergency services.

The Nationals and Liberals will scrap Labor's unfair levy, which drastically increased property charges and burdens Victorian families and farmers

Stealth land tax

Labelled a "land tax by stealth," Labor's new levy has doubled or even tripled charges for property owners across the state, with primary producers hit hardest - facing rate hikes of up to 150 percent. Under Labor's changes, a typical home valued at $1 million now attracts a $309 annual charge, while small businesses and farmers are paying thousands more without any guarantee that money will go to frontline services.

Leader of the Opposition, Brad Battin, said the Allan Labor government was once again using a heartless tax hike to plug its budget black hole. "Only Labor could try and spin a massive land tax as support for volunteers. This is not about emergency services - it's about squeezing more cash from Victorians to pay for Labor's budget blowouts."

"Under our plan, the Liberals and Nationals will repeal the ESVF and return to the simpler, fairer Fire Services Property Levy - a model that funds fire services transparently, without punishing homeowners, renters and farmers," Mr Battin said.

Respect our volunteers

Mr Battin said emergency services volunteers deserve genuine support - not confusing rebate schemes and false promises. "Labor has failed to respect our CFA and SES volunteers. Their funding model is based on deception, and we will scrap it."

Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Minister for Emergency Services, Danny O'Brien, said regional Victorians had been hit hardest by Labor's new tax. "This cruel tax deserves to be consigned to history. The Liberals and Nationals will make sure it is."

"It is a tax that hits regional Victorians particularly hard - and it's about plugging budget holes, not boosting frontline emergency services. Slugging farmers with a 150 per cent increase to what they previously paid is nothing short of callous amid a drought and a cost-of-living crisis," Mr O'Brien said.

Fairer funding future

Under The Nationals and Liberals in government, Labor's Emergency Services Property Levy will be scrapped and the simpler, fairer Fire Services Property Levy reinstated, with SES funding secured transparently through the State Budget - not hidden inside property rates.

"This is about fairness, transparency and properly supporting those who protect our communities. Labor can't manage money, can't manage emergency services and Victorians are paying the price," Mr Battin said.

Pictures from Danny O'Brien MP Instagram page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com