We’re calling on the Victorian Parliament to take immediate action and refer the deeply flawed Fire Services Levy Bill to a parliamentary inquiry, as it faces debate in the Upper House this week.
VFF President Brett Hosking said the Bill must be referred to a parliamentary inquiry to ensure the community has a voice in the process.
“This Bill was introduced without a single conversation with farmers or rural Victorians. Now the government wants to ram it through parliament with no scrutiny and no consultation. That is completely unacceptable.”
“Some farmers may be exempt, but by and large the huge majority won’t be eligible and will be hit with this blatant cash grab.”
“The Upper House must step in and stop this reckless attack on the farming community. If this Bill is not sent to a formal inquiry for proper review, it will be an absolute betrayal of rural Victoria,” Mr Hosking said.
Mr Hosking slammed the Bill as a blatant cash grab that unfairly punishes farmers.
“This is an outright attack on Victoria’s farmers. The median fire services levy for primary producers will skyrocket by 109%, from $621 to $1,299 per assessment, with some landholders facing hikes in the tens of thousands of dollars.”
Meanwhile, residential property owners will see a much lower increase of 32%.
“How is that fair? This government is shifting the cost burden onto those who can least afford it. Farmers will be forced to absorb yet another cost or try and find a way to pass it through the supply chain, adding to the family grocery bills.”
“Victorian farmers are already doing it tough, this year we have been battling drought, bushfires, and skyrocketing expenses. This tax hike will push many businesses to the wall. The government must stop this madness immediately,” Mr Hosking said.
Mr Hosking also warned that the government’s plan to replace long-standing emergency services funding with a new targeted tax is a dangerous policy shift with far-reaching consequences.
“This Bill opens the door for further taxes on emergency services. Today, it’s a tax to fund the State Control Centre and Triple Zero Victoria. Tomorrow, it could be ambulance services, police, or even hospitals. Where does it end?”
“This Bill must be stopped. We will not stand by while farmers and rural communities are railroaded by bad policy,” Mr Hosking concluded.