The Victorian Government’s 2024–25 State Budget proposes replacing the Fire Services Property Levy (FSPL) with the new Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF) from 1 July 2025. This change will significantly increase the financial burden on farmers and rural landowners, with some facing up to a 400% increase in their levy payments.

While the government claims the average farmer will pay an additional $13 per week, independent analyses suggest that the average primary producer’s annual payment could rise from $2,525 to $6,805. This substantial increase comes at a time when rural communities are already grappling with drought, rising costs, and economic uncertainty.

🚨 Why This Matters:

• Disproportionate Impact: Farmers and rural landowners are bearing the brunt of this levy increase, with some facing hikes of tens of thousands of dollars.
• Lack of Consultation: The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has criticized the government for not consulting with rural communities before introducing this bill.
• Tokenistic Exemptions: While CFA and VICSES volunteers are exempted from the levy on their principal place of residence, this does not extend to their entire farming properties, offering minimal relief.
• Council Opposition: Local councils, including Geelong and Surf Coast, have expressed strong opposition, citing the severe financial impact on already drought-stricken farmers and the administrative burden on councils.
• Farmers as CFA Volunteers: A significant number of Victorian farmers are also CFA volunteers, dedicating their time and resources to protect their communities from fires. Despite their contributions, they are still subject to significant levy increases on their agricultural land.

📝 What We’re Asking For:

1. Immediate Halt: Scrap or freeze the proposed ESVF increase until a fairer model is developed.
2. Transparent Funding: Ensure that emergency services funding is transparent and directly tied to regional service delivery.
3. Equitable Distribution: Develop a funding model that does not disproportionately burden rural landowners and farmers.
4. Meaningful Consultation: Engage in genuine consultation with farming communities, local councils, and relevant stakeholders before implementing such significant changes.
5. Comprehensive Exemptions for Volunteers: Extend levy exemptions to cover all properties owned by CFA and VICSES volunteers, recognizing their invaluable contributions to community safety.