ONE Loddon farmer would see his emergency services tax bill jump $50,000 to $71,000 unless the State Government repealed its controversial legislation, Cr Miki Wilson told Friday’s shire council meeting.
The Inglewood Ward councillor called for strength and unity across Victoria in continuing opposition to the tax.
Councillors are waiting on the Governor’s office for talks after it called for the tax to be scrapped and attended last month’s protest rally in Melbourne.
They voted last week to again condemn the tax.
Councillors are seeking to advocate for residential, commercial and industrial properties who will still see an increase in 2025- 2026.
Cr David Weaver said the Government had only suspended the tax for farmers for 12 months.
“It’s still sitting there ... only suspended for primary producers.”
Cr Weaver said the tax was seen as divisive in the community.
He said the Government should “step up and give everyone a break”.
Cr Nick Angelo said: “I swore an oath to perform (councillor) duties in the best interests of the community. This levy is just wrong on so many levels.
“I appeal to other councillors and councils to do the right thing for their communities,” Cr Angelo said.
Mayor Dan Straub said there had been positive feedback to council’s opposition to the tax but pressure had to be kept on the State Government.
He said this week that while the State Government announced temporary changes to the tax, giving primary producers a 12-month reprieve from paying an increased levy, this did not lessen the burden for other large sections of the community.
“Commercial and industrial property owners will still have to pay much increased levies, tens of thousands of dollars for some Loddon businesses, while the burden is also substantially greater for residential ratepayers as well,” Cr Straub said.
“This is not just a Loddon Shire issue, it is a statewide issue, affecting rural, regional and metropolitan residents alike.”