DISGRUNTLED CFA volunteers are making central Victoria their next protest point against the State Government’s controversial emergency services tax.
Leaders of several Loddon brigades say they will join the protest in Bendigo on September 14 organised by the CFA Volunteers’ Group.
Local brigades were part of the massive protest in Melbourne in May when thousands descended on State Parliament.
“All ratepayers, be they farmers, business, commercial, residents or renters will now be seeing that in their own rates notice,” volunteers’ group secretary Leigh Harry has told CFA members.
“Add to that is the massive cut to the CFA’s funding ! The Governments own Gazette shows that the CFA’s budget is being actually cut by $41.9 million for 2025-2026, certainly not an increase like the Premier claims.
From the first rally in Melbourne earlier this year, we have now organised rally’s in Warrnambool, Camperdown, Ballarat and Werribee. There is more to be done to continue to pressure the Allan Government into reviewing this unjust tax.”
Loddon ratepayers have received their annual rate  notices including the tax councils are forced to collect.