MANSFIELD Shire has been a leading voice against the new ESVF tax with council’s Mayor Cr Steve Rabie and Chief Executive Officer Kirsten Alexander attending the State Council meeting last Friday 16 May 2025.

In February 2024, council made the unanimous decision to advocate against the tax.

One of the advocacy measures was to resolve to put a motion to the MAV State Council to ask all 79 Victorian councils to band together against the tax.

Many other councils also put a motion forward to MAV for the same consideration.

The motion was presented to all 79 councils, with Mansfield Shire Council and Benalla Rural City Council amending the motion to strengthen the opposition of the tax itself.

Mayor Cr Steve Rabie said he was grateful for the opportunity to be a strong voice against the tax.

“No council wants to collect the tax," he said.

"It’s an unfair tax and it will be a massive burden not only on our communities but on our council organisations.

"We know that our community is going to be upset by the tax and our council customer service officers will be the ones they end up having to hand their money over to.

"We’re the only level of government with a front desk and our officers will be the ones to cop the frustration that should be directed at the state government.

"This is really very risky for councils.

"We are forced to pay on behalf of our community, which puts us in financial risk.

"I was really impressed that even the metro councils voted to support the motion, which highlights how it is unfair on rural communities.

"It shows that we are united in our view of this tax, even metro councils can see that even their communities will suffer."

Councils from across the state resolved to:

• Oppose Councils being the collector on behalf of the State Government

• State Revenue Office to collect the Principal Place of Residence (PPR) component of the ESVF, instead of councils

• Fully reimburse costs incurred by the local government sector for the collection, reporting and debt recovery services that it will provide

• Improve transparency and communication

• Ensure that the levy is equitably structured and does not disproportionately burden rural communities or primary producers