Agriculture
27 May, 2025
Unite and refuse to collect: Loddon Shire on emergency services tax
LODDON Shire councillors have this afternoon called on all 79 Victorian councils to refuse collection of the State Government's controversial new emergency services tax. A week after all five councillors and CEO Lincoln Fitzgerald attended the Scrap...
LODDON Shire councillors have this afternoon called on all 79 Victorian councils to refuse collection of the State Government's controversial new emergency services tax.
A week after all five councillors and CEO Lincoln Fitzgerald attended the Scrap the Tax rally on the steps of Parliament House, councillors today at their monthly meeting also called on the Governor to refuse Royal assent to the Government's legislation.
Cr Miki Wilson said a levy was defined as a temporary measure and the emergency services levy was not that, it was a tax.
She also said the tax was a result of a crisis in mismanagement of Victoria's finances by the Labor Government and it was not supported in the community.
Cr Nick Angelo labelled the tax unAustralian.
The council unanimously passed a motion that said:
1. Reiterates our objections from the 25 th of March to the proposed introductionof the abhorrent Emergency Services Volunteer Fund Levy in its current form,due to the significant, unfair and inequitable impacts it will have on the Shire’sfarming, commercial and industrial sectors.
2. Call on the State Government to listen to our community and immediatelyrepeal the implementation of the Emergency Services Volunteer Fund Levy(Bill).
3. As the Bill is awaiting Royal Assent, we call on Professor the HonourableMargaret Gardner AC Governor of Victoria to exercise her reserve powersand not sign this bill (ESVFL) into Law.
4. Authorise the Mayor to write to all Victorian Councils, Rural Councils Victoriaand the Municipal Association of Victoria seeking them to unite and as acollective oppose the collection of the Emergency Services Volunteer FundLevy.
Full report in Thursday's Loddon Herald