CFA volunteers and farmers protest Victoria's proposed Emergency Services Levy By state political reporter Nicole AsherTopic:Demonstrations1h ago1 hours agoFri 9 May 2025 at 6:44amFire trucks were parked outside parliament on Friday in protest of a proposed levy. (ABC News)In short:Volunteer firefighters and farmers have staged a protest on the steps of Victorian parliament in opposition to the Emergency Services Levy. Farmers say it will not be financially viable for them to pay the new proposed levy.In Bendigo, CFA volunteers drove fire trucks to the premier's office with the goal of returning the keys.abc.net.au/news/cfa-bendigo-melbourne-protests-fire-services-levy/105275348Link copiedShareShare articleFarmers and volunteer firefighters angry about a new emergency services tax have blocked traffic on Melbourne's West Gate Bridge to draw attention to what they describe as an unjust burden."It's not viable for farmers to be able to pay that tax," farmer Rob Armstrong said.A convoy of more than a dozen fire trucks and farm vehicles set a creeping pace during peak hour this morning before lining Spring Street outside Parliament House.More than a dozen vehicles made their way in a convoy through Melbourne (ABC News)The state government is moving to introduce a new Emergency Services Levy, which would replace the existing Fire Services Levy already attached to land rates in Victoria.Under the planned tax changes, some farmers say the amount they pay will increase by tens of thousands of dollars."It stops farmers employing people because they've got to pay a bill to the government for $80,000 — well, there's someone's wage," Mr Armstrong said.Many at the protest said they would be forced to pay tens of thousands of dollars more under the planned changes. (ABC News)He said he was baffled by the government's intentions of introducing even higher taxes during drought periods."I actually find it really hard to believe that a government would think this was a good idea, he said.Levy to be raised from high land taxesUnder both the existing Fire Services Levy, and the planned Emergency Services Levy, primary production land is taxed at a higher rate.Money raised will go towards fire services, the SES, state control centre and Triple Zero.Firefighting jackets were thrown on the steps of Parliament House in protest. (ABC News: Nicole Asher)"It's something our the State Emergency Services have been calling for, they're also volunteers," Premier Jacinta Allan said."We've introduced this change because we want to increase support for our emergency services. To bring funding to the state emergency services for the first time in a similar way to the fire services."Jacinta Allan says the new levy is necessary to increase support for emergency services. (AAP Image: Joel Carrett)But farmers protesting today claim it will increase their tax burden, without contributing materially more to local CFA brigades, which many farmers also volunteer for."Not only is it a horrendous tax, we are firefighters. We're either the member of a CFA truck or we're a private unit," Mr Armstrong said."We risk our lives … I spent all Christmas Day on a fire truck in the Grampians, missed out on all the fun, trying to look after people's farms."We don't get paid for it, we do it because it's our job to look after people."Farmer Rob Armstrong expressed disbelief at the government's attempt to introduce the new tax. (ABC News)The upper house is expected to vote on the controversial new tax as soon as Tuesday, when parliament returns.Opposition Leader Brad Battin was at the rally and called on the government to drop the tax."There are farmers here that are struggling each and every day because of the drought that many people will not even talk about, and then the government wants to throw a tax on them," Mr Battin said."[The government must] ensure that this tax is stopped in the first sitting of parliament and never gets put back on the table."Trucks with slogans criticising the tax were parked along Spring Street in protest. (ABC News)CFA volunteers say they're furious about getting slugged with an extra tax when they already contribute time — and in many cases — money to their local brigades as well.The government has flagged exemptions for CFA volunteers on the levy charged on their place of residence.But those who do the job say that doesn't go far enough, because it doesn't take into account they way farms are structured.Ms Allan said as someone who lives in a very high fire risk area in rural Victoria, she deeply understood and appreciated the work that fire and emergency services did to keep the community safe."We need to ensure we're investing in our fire and emergency services and every dollar through the fire and emergency services volunteer fund will be invested in our emergency services."Bendigo volunteers take up protest outside premier's officeTom Drife is a farmer from Glendaruel, on the rural fringe of Ballarat.He told the ABC's Victorian Country Hour that 15 to 20 fire trucks from central and northern Victorian communities were driven to the premier's office at lunchtime today.Farmers gather outside Jacinta Allan's office on Mollison Street in protest of the new levy. (ABC News: Emile Pavlich)"A whole heap of proud CFA volunteers have come to Bendigo, to Jacinta Allan's office and basically handed the keys (of the trucks) back," Mr Drife said. "We're getting pushed beyond our limits and we decided to do something she'll take notice of."The tax as it's proposed is unfairly skewed towards farmers. Our tax will go up 189 per cent which is very significant for all operations."He said his bill would increase from $3,000 to about $14,000.Fire trucks were parked outside Jacinta Allan's Bendigo office, as volunteers handed back the keys to the premier. (ABC News: Emile Pavlich)"It's along the lines of $2 billion ripped out of regional Victoria. That $2 billion would have been spent in regional Victoria," Mr Drife said."It's going to go straight back to Melbourne and our communities are just going to be left high and dry."Most of Victoria's had a very tough season this year, we are going to struggle to pay that if it comes in, but even on a good season, the community can't afford to pay that."There was no-one at the premier's office today and the keys to the fire trucks have been left at the front door.Posted 1h ago1 hours agoFri 9 May 2025 at 6:44amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesNationals leader faces Canavan challenge as Taylor confirms he'll contest Liberal leadershipLIVEPhoto shows Matt Canavan, in side profile, grimaces slightly during a press conferenceAustralia's political conclave theatrics feel blokey, but the future is femaleAAnalysis by Annabel CrabbPhoto shows Sussan LeyErin Patterson was building Lego hours after serving deadly meal, court hearsTopic:CourtsPhoto shows A close up photo of Erin Patterson looking over her shoulder wearing glases.‘Like a rock’: Revered Arnhem Land elder dies after alleged attackTopic:Indigenous AustraliansPhoto shows An Aboriginal man wearing a black graphic tee, with gray hair, speaking at a podium in front of a Garma festival banner. 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