Six
local councils have joined forces to oppose the Victorian Government’s proposed
Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF) levy.
The
councils met with Upper House Member for Western Victoria, Sarah Mansfield MLC,
to voice their concerns and urge her to vote against the State Government’s
proposed new tax, which will hit ratepayers with huge increases on their rates
notice.
The
controversial Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF) legislation, which
will significantly impact farmers and commercial ratepayers, has already passed
the Lower House, and requires the support of the opposition or six members of
the crossbench to pass.
If
passed, the ESVF replaces the existing Fire Services Property Levy, and would,
as an example, see ratepayers in Greater Geelong, Surf Coast and Colac
Otway Shires alone pay almost $30 million extra on their rates notices.
The
levy proposes to fund vital emergency services, however it is not clear where
the money will go, and councils are concerned about the crippling impact on
ratepayers and are also objecting to being the State Government’s tax
collectors.
Yesterday’s
meeting saw Colac Otway Shire Mayor Jason Schram, Golden Plains Shire Acting
Mayor Helena Kirby and acting chief executive Steve Sagona, Surf Coast Shire
Mayor Mike Bodsworth and chief executive Robyn Seymour, Borough of Queenscliffe
Mayor Di Rule and chief executive Martin Gill, and Wyndham City chief executive
Stephen Wall come together to advocate collectively alongside City of Greater
Geelong Mayor Stretch Kontelj OAM, chief executive Ali Wastie, and advocate and
Ararat Rural City Councillor Rob Armstrong.
Greater
Geelong Mayor Stretch Kontelj OAM:
We’ve
brought together councils covering Werribee to Colac and Apollo Bay to
Queenscliff and everywhere in between to collectively oppose this unfair levy.
We
hope all members of the Legislative Council will take note of how this issue
has brought so many different communities together with one voice and cast
their vote accordingly.
As
councils, we’re here to benefit our local communities - we’re not a revenue
collection service for the Victorian Government.
Surf
Coast Mayor Mike Bodsworth:
I
hope you stand strong with us and our community.
Many
primary producers are already under financial pressure at the moment due to the
drought, and expecting them to bear an increased cost like this is really
unfair.
Our
community is against this levy, and there is broad agreement across councils
that it should be scrapped.
By
having councils collect the levy on its behalf, the state is protecting its own
reputation at councils’ expense – because there’s no doubt this will widely be
seen as an extra council fee.
Golden
Plains Shire acting Mayor Helena Kirby:
We
have had farmers meeting around the Shire, and this is impacting them badly.
It’s
impacting families and children who might play sport; parents have to find the
money from somewhere, and the children miss out.
Farmers
put food on our tables, and we send food overseas.
We
should be concerned about the risk of suicide, and we need to look after them.
This
will impact our residents socially, mentally and physically; it’s one of the
most important decisions the Greens will have to make.
Colac
Otway Mayor Jason Schram:
Farmers
who paid $1800 this year will pay $10,000 if the ESVF goes through the Upper
House and they can’t pay it.
I
have spoken to farmers who say they won’t pay it.
Drought
or no drought, our farmers are struggling; people are talking of suicide
because of the hardship.
Borough
of Queenscliffe Mayor Di Rule:
It’s
a tax on ratepayers designed to support emergency services but we don’t know
where it’s going to go
And
while Queenscliffe doesn’t have farmers, we all know farmers and they are
facing the biggest drought since 1967.
For
Local Government it will be a nightmare to collect this tax; the administration
and our reputation.
It’s
not our job to collect State Government taxes.
Do
your own dirty work.
Wyndham
City chief executive Stephen Wall:
It’s
an important issue and we agree with all the comments made by the elected
representatives present.
Wyndham
is the fastest growing municipality in the country, our residents’ average age
is 32, and we have young families and first home owners already under mortgage
stress.
This
increase in levy will have a dire impact.
Werribee
South is an important food bowl for Victoria, and our market gardens are
already under immense financial pressure with the cost of water, fertilisers
and farm maintenance.
More
tax on primary production could mean the end for many of them.
Residents
can’t distinguish between what is a state levy or council rate on their rates
notice, and Council will wear the brunt of the complaints and dealing with
financial hardship claims.
An
increased tax on home owners in a housing crisis makes no sense.