VICTORIA’S peak local government body will  be asked to continue uniting councils in opposition to the State Government’s controversial emergency services tax.
Loddon Shire councillors on Tuesday backed a motion to the Municipal Association of Victoria’s next state council meeting.
Inglewood Ward’s Cr Miki Wilson said” “It’s important we continue pressure on this tax.”
The emergency services tax became law from July 1 after crossbenchers backed Government legislation that forces councils to collect the levy.
Cr Wilson said she had attended the online meeting of the Not In Our Name Group this month. The group is organising further protests against the tax.
Mayor Dan Straub earlier told Tuesday’s meeting that he had spoken with the chief of staff to Governor Margaret Gardner after council wrote to her calling for her to withhold assent to the new legislation.
Cr Straub said the shire’s position on the tax had been put to the Governor’s office and highlighted the stress it would put on residents and rural communities.
 The bottom line of rate bills in Loddon Shire could be 25 per cent higher this year with Loddon Shire preparing a new look notice highlighting the tax amount that will be sent to the State Revenue Office.
The emergency services tax replaced the fire services levy with increases of up to 150 per cent. Farmers have been given a 12-month reprieve but Premier Jacinta Allan last month linked any extension or adjustment to for them to drought conditions in Victoria.
Meanwhile, the Country Fire Authority last week gave volunteer firefighters details of exemptions available to them.
CEO Greg Leach and Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said: “The Government has determined that the rebate application form will only be accessible to CFA volunteers through our online portal on Members Online.
“This portal will go live in coming weeks – coinciding with the issuing of rates notices.” 
Volunteers will have to check their details are correct in CFA’s database to access the Government rebate application form when it goes live. 
“CFA is required to verify to Government which volunteers meet the eligibility criteria to enable access to the rebate application form,” they told members, “We know this levy has been a contentious issue for many of our members, but our focus is now on making sure volunteers can access the rebate they’re entitled to.” 
The rebate on the tax for principal place of residence will be available to operational and support CFA members who have served for at least 12 months, have completed probation, are not suspended on disciplinary grounds and have not taken a leave of absence for the duration of the preceding 12 months.