Victorian property owners are facing substantial increases in their rates notices due to changes in the fire services levy.
The Victorian Government significantly increased the fire services levy, a tax paid by all Victorian landowners, as part of the 2024-25 state budget.
This increase is expected to raise an additional $186 million from Victorian taxpayers for fire services in this financial year.
With the recent release of rates notices, property owners are only now seeing the impact this increase will have on their bills.
State Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland expressed concern that regional property owners, including many volunteer firefighters, were now burdened with substantially higher bills due to the tax increase.
“We owe our CFA volunteers more than gratitude; we owe them the resources to do their job safely and effectively,” she said.
“Instead of hiking taxes, this government should be investing in the men and women who stand between us and disaster.”
In response to these concerns, a government spokesperson told The Telegraph that the Fire Services Property Levy was implemented based on recommendations from the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission, with the primary goal of funding crucial fire services.
“All levy proceeds go to supporting the state’s fire services, including vital life-saving equipment, firefighters, staff, training, infrastructure and community education,” the spokesperson said.
According to Ms Cleeland, local ratepayers report a staggering 53 per cent increase in their fire services levy, with some farmers grappling with hikes of up to 65 per cent compared to last year.
“This comes on top of the already massive rise in land tax that these same residents are struggling to manage,” she said.
“Despite this steep tax hike, our CFA brigades will likely see little to no benefit before the fire season — very little of the funds raised are going back into the critical volunteer service that protects our communities.
“Some of these property owners are volunteer firefighters themselves, and they can’t understand how this tax has skyrocketed while their brigades receive so little support from the government.”
Meanwhile, large international renewable energy companies have been gifted a staggering 91.4 per cent reduction in their fire services levy, a move Ms Cleeland lambasted as a “free kick” from a cash-strapped government.
“The Allan Labor Government can’t manage money, and it certainly can’t manage our emergency services,” Ms Cleeland said.
“Regional communities are paying the price.
“These massive international companies, which contribute little to the regional communities they disrupt, are receiving unjust benefits from this government — while local property owners shoulder the burden.
“It’s completely unacceptable that these corporations get a free pass, while our local farmers and homeowners are hit with outrageous costs.”