OLD combatants became cheer squad leaders on Tuesday when the Coalition promised to axe the emergency services tax if it win the 2026 state election.
Volunteers from the Country Fire Authority and members of the United Firefighters Union were on the same platform with Liberal leader Brad Battin and Nationals’ counterpart Danny O’Brien.
Strange bedfellows, all admitted. Two volunteer and professional wings of firefighting in Victoria had a few years ago been at loggerheads over reforms to the services.
Country volunteers seen as more in step with Coalition policies, UFU secretary Peter Marshall and his members with Labor governments.
On the same side in the emergency services tax revolt, they jumped at roaring support for the Coalition’s commitment.
Opposition MPs labelled the new levy a “land tax by stealth”.
According to the Coalition, changes by Premier Jacinta Allan’s Government would mean a typical home valued at $1 million now attracts a $309 annual charge, while small businesses and farmers are paying thousands more without any guarantee that money will go to frontline services.
Mr Battin, said the Government was using a heartless tax hike to plug its budget black hole.
“Only Labor could try and spin a massive land tax as support for volunteers. This is not about emergency services – it’s about squeezing more cash from Victorians to pay for Labor’s budget blowouts,” Mr Battin said.
“Under our plan, the Liberals and Nationals will repeal the ESVF and return to the simpler, fairer Fire Services Property Levy – a model that funds fire services transparently, without punishing homeowners, renters and farmers.”
Mr Battin said emergency services volunteers deserve genuine support – not confusing rebate schemes and false promises.
“Labor has failed to respect our CFA and SES volunteers. Their funding model is based on deception, and we will scrap it.”
Mr O’Brien, said regional Victorians had been hit hardest by the tax.  “This cruel tax deserves to be consigned to history. The Liberals and Nationals will make sure it is,” Mr O’Brien said.
“It is a tax that hits regional Victorians particularly hard – and it’s about plugging budget holes, not boosting frontline emergency services.
“Slugging farmers with a 150 per cent increase to what they previously paid is nothing short of callous amid a drought and a cost-of-living crisis.”
Mr O’Brien said a Coalition government would reinstate the fire services levy that was simpler and fairer.