"No transparency where the money goes": Southern Grampians Council opposes new Emergency Services levy

Southern Grampians farmers could soon see their fire services levy skyrocket when Victoria’s new Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy (ESVF) is introduced in July. The Southern Grampians Shire council says enough is enough.

At a heated council meeting on March 12, Southern Grampians Shire councillors unanimously opposed the ESVF, arguing that it unfairly targets rural communities.

"Being from an agricultural sector — this tax, it's just a tax, that's all it is — we will be hit the hardest, and I believe that the state government needs to seriously reconsider," said Councillor Adam Campbell.

"The most issue I've got with it is there will be no transparency where the money goes and that is the biggest red flag about it."

What is the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund?

From July 2025, Victoria will replace its Fire Services Property Levy (FSPL) with the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund. The new fund will support more services, including Triple Zero, Forest Fire management Victoria, Emergency Recovery Victoria, and the Country Fire Authority and Fire Rescue Victoria.

The ESVF will be a fixed charge for Victorians calculated based on property, as well as a variable charge based on property value. Those working in emergency services won’t have to pay the ESVF on their primary residence. The state government says all money raised through the ESVF will go towards “life-saving equipment, vehicles, staff, training, community education, and support.”

A table showing potential comparison rates on the Victoria’s Department of Treasuring and Finance website shows how variable rates could more than double for many landowners.

Council says local agriculture will be hit hardest

During the meeting, Councillor Katrina Rainsford said the levy increase outpaces council rate caps, with some businesses facing a 100 percent increase in fire levy costs. The biggest hit, however, is to the agriculture (“Primary Production”) sector, which will see a a potential variable rate increase of almost 300 percent.

"This will see an increase from 2.8 million dollars that's taken from our area to over 7 million dollars — and this is not money that we will see a return from," warned Councillor Helen Henry. 

"I very much doubt that this is money we will actually get back in any significant way, I suspect it will go the way of the landfill levy.”

The burden on already struggling rural communities was a key concern for Councillors, who noted that many local agriculture businesses are in the midst of a prolonged and severe drought period.

"Anyone listening, I strongly urge you to get into contact with your federal member, your state member, anyone who will actually listen because this will go before the state parliament and this is something that we do not want in our country area," Councillor Henry said.

Several objections made to new levy

The council passed an urgent motion to write to the Premier of Victoria, the Treasurer of Victoria, the Victorian Minister for Local Government, and local Victorian parliamentary representatives to formally object to council collecting the Emergency Services and Fund Levy (formerly known as the fire levy) on behalf of the state government.

The motion outlines several objections, including that the Victorian government should use the State Revenue Office to collect the new tax, rather than placing the burden on local councils. It also criticised the lack of adequate engagement or consultation with local government regarding the introduction of the tax.

The council's formal objection emphasises that the levy "unfairly impacts regional ratepayers, particularly Victorian farmers" and notes that the "administrative burden will be too great for rural councils, necessitating system upgrades and significantly impact council staff who will need to manage ratepayers requesting assistance and experiencing bill shock."

Additionally, the council noted that the Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund Levy falls outside their existing rating policy.

The motion also urged the Mayor of Southern Grampians Dennis Heslin to contact relevant regional groups and mayors in other regional shires to establish their position and develop a future strategy on the matter.

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