AN 11th hour bid to stop the controversial Emergency Services Volunteers Fund (ESVF) from passing the Victorian upper house was made last week with an appeal to all crossbench MPs.
Victorian Fire Brigades Victoria District 23 president and veteran firefighter Garry Nash has written to 59 MPs along with the Premier Jacinta Allan and Treasurer Jaclyn Symes.
Under the ESVF, primary producers face triple the tax for each parcel of land to what they're paying now, and residential property taxes would double.
Mr Nash's latest push to force a stay on the legislation, which passed the lower house in March, was last Thursday, backed by Rural City of Wangaratta Mayor Irene Grant and Deputy Mayor Harvey Benton, local firefighters, and farmers.
They gathered out the front of council’s municipal offices and Mr Nash briefed the gathering on letters to politicians calling for the ESVF to be scrapped.
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“The duty to act for me was prompted by the disrespect this current government has had for our volunteers, our rural and regional communities, and the government not consulting about the new levy,” Mr Nash said.
Mr Nash canned the ‘volunteers fund’ saying it was a “smoke screen” and he said volunteerism is not part of the fund and he rather described it as “an absolute tax grab”.
“I was more passionate about this when, after I wrote to the premier and the treasurer, I received a response that they would talk to me in six to seven weeks when they can,” he said.
“That didn’t quite infuriate me, but it made me more determined to do something further so I have written letters to 59 MPs and I must say they have been very positive in their responses.
“An MP communicated with me today that its mutton dressed up as lamb and it’s an insult to volunteers and the community."
Mr Nash met with Nationals leader Danny O’Brien and MP for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland last Wednesday night and he said they are passionate about seeing this legislation voted down.
Mayor Grant said the levy is another financial imposition community will have to manage.
“We’ve spoken to Jaclyn Symes and she’s been quite clear that this levy will go ahead and we’re concerned from a council perspective that we’ve go yet another job to do,” she said.
“It’s something that’s going to impact on our community and we’re hugely concerned about that.
“I am really pleased to see our community stand up and say this is not for us and this is something that is going to make a financial difference in a very negative way – let’s do something about it.”
Cr Grant said at no time in the process was local government consulted about the levy.
Six southern councils have also joined forces in opposition to the government’s levy.
The councils met with Upper House Member for Western Victoria, Sarah Mansfield MLC, to voice their concerns and urge her to vote against the State Government’s proposed new tax, which will hit ratepayers with huge increases on their rates notice.
The controversial ESVF legislation, which will significantly impact farmers and commercial ratepayers requires the support of the opposition or six members of the crossbench to pass.
The levy proposes to fund vital emergency services, however it is not clear where the money will go, and councils are concerned about the crippling impact on ratepayers and are also objecting to being the State Government’s tax collectors.
A meeting held on May 8 saw Colac Otway Shire Mayor Jason Schram, Golden Plains Shire Acting Mayor Helena Kirby and acting chief executive Steve Sagona, Surf Coast Shire Mayor Mike Bodsworth and chief executive Robyn Seymour, Borough of Queenscliffe Mayor Di Rule and chief executive Martin Gill, and Wyndham City chief executive Stephen Wall come together to advocate collectively alongside City of Greater Geelong Mayor Stretch Kontelj OAM, chief executive Ali Wastie, and advocate and Ararat Rural City Councillor Rob Armstrong.
This united front follows on from a growing number of councils across the state registering their opposition.
Mansfield Shire Council unanimously voted against the tax in March.
The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) president Cr Jennifer Anderson said many councils across Victoria have already raised council motions about the levy and its impact on residents.
Greater Geelong Mayor Stretch Kontelj OAM said their recent meeting demonstrated region’s councils willingness to fight against the new tax on behalf of our communities.
"We’ve brought together councils covering Werribee to Colac and Apollo Bay to Queenscliff and everywhere in between to collectively oppose this unfair levy,” Mayor Kontelj said.
“We hope all members of the Legislative Council will take note of how this issue has brought so many different communities together with one voice and cast their vote accordingly.
"As councils, we’re here to benefit our local communities - we’re not a revenue collection service for the Victorian Government.”
Surf Coast Mayor Mike Bodsworth called on Ms Mansfield to vote against the levy.
"I hope you stand strong with us and our community,” Mayor Bodsworth said.
"Many primary producers are already under financial pressure at the moment due to the drought, and expecting them to bear an increased cost like this is really unfair.
"Our community is against this levy, and there is broad agreement across councils that it should be scrapped."
Golden Plains Shire acting Mayor Helena Kirby said the organisation had heard of the first-hand impacts of the levy.
“We have had farmers meeting around the shire, and this is impacting them badly,” Acting Mayor Kirby said.
“Farmers put food on our tables, and we send food overseas.
“We should be concerned about the risk of suicide, and we need to look after them.
“This will impact our residents socially, mentally and physically.”
Colac Otway Mayor Jason Schram pointed to the significant cost increase for ratepayers.
“Farmers who paid $1800 this year will pay $10,000 if the ESVF goes through the Upper House and they can’t pay it,” Mayor Schram said.
“I have spoken to farmers who say they won’t pay it.
“Drought or no drought, our farmers are struggling; people are talking of suicide because of the hardship.”
Borough of Queenscliffe Mayor Di Rule said the levy would be difficult for local governments to collect.
“It’s a tax on ratepayers designed to support emergency services but we don’t know where it’s going to go,” Mayor Rule said.
“And while Queenscliffe doesn’t have farmers, we all know farmers and they are facing the biggest drought since 1967.
“For local government it will be a nightmare to collect this tax; the administration and our reputation.
“It’s not our job to collect state government taxes.
“Do your own dirty work.”
Wyndham City chief executive Stephen Wall said the levy would have a ‘dire’ impact on mortgage stress.
“It’s an important issue and we agree with all the comments made by the elected representatives present,” Mr Wall said.
“Wyndham is the fastest growing municipality in the country, our residents’ average age is 32, and we have young families and first home owners already under mortgage stress.
“This increase in levy will have a dire impact.
“Werribee South is an important food bowl for Victoria, and our market gardens are already under immense financial pressure with the cost of water, fertilisers and farm maintenance.
“More tax on primary production could mean the end for many of them.
“Residents can’t distinguish between what is a state levy or council rate on their rates notice, and council will wear the brunt of the complaints and dealing with financial hardship claims.
“An increased tax on home owners in a housing crisis makes no sense.”
The bill was expected to be debated in parliament on Tuesday May 13.
