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🇦🇺 Australia /Elections & Politics

Hundreds of regional firefighters rally against levy in Bendigo

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Hundreds of regional firefighters in Victoria, Australia, rallied against a controversial levy.
  • Protesters are frustrated by the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF), introduced last year.
  • They argue the levy unfairly taxes volunteers and does not adequately fund services, while farmers face significant financial increases.

Hundreds of regional firefighters gathered in Bendigo, Victoria, to protest a new levy they argue places undue financial pressure on volunteers and property owners. The rally highlighted deep frustration with the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF), implemented last year.

We go and put our life on the line to go and fight for our neighbours … and now [Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan] goes and taxes us.

— David BrennanA CFA volunteer from Corack explains his frustration with the new levy.

Protesters voiced anger over the ESVF, which is charged to all property owners and aims to raise revenue for fire services, the SES, and the Triple Zero call center. Farmers, in particular, face substantial increases, with some bills potentially rising from a manageable $8,000 to $35,000 or even $100,000. This has led to widespread discontent, with many feeling unfairly targeted.

"We go and put our life on the line to go and fight for our neighbours … and now [Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan] goes and taxes us," said David Brennan, a CFA volunteer from Corack. He criticized the state government's financial management, stating, "Our government couldn't run a small business. They're in financial trouble and when they're in financial trouble, they make stupid decisions."

Our government couldn't run a small business. They're in financial trouble and when they're in financial trouble, they make stupid decisions.

— David BrennanA CFA volunteer criticizes the state government's financial management.

David George, a volunteer of over 50 years, echoed these sentiments, questioning the purpose of the tax when "we put the fires out." He warned that the opposition to the levy would continue and grow. Chris Cooke of the Pyalong CFA brigade added that the tax is unequal, disproportionately affecting rural residents and farmers compared to city dwellers, and questioned the allocation of funds, noting his brigade uses a 28-year-old fire truck.

What for? We put the fires out.

— David GeorgeA long-time volunteer questions the justification for the emergency services levy.

The rally also saw the controversial slogan "ditch the witch," directed at Premier Jacinta Allan, played over loudspeakers, a sentiment widely condemned as sexist. The firefighters are demanding the scrapping of the ESVF, arguing that the government has forgotten the crucial role volunteers play in protecting communities.

I hope people realise this is not the end of it. We're going to be bigger than ever before. Everyone has had a gutful.

— David GeorgeA volunteer vows continued opposition to the controversial levy.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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