Farmers continue to protest Victoria’s Emergency Services Levy

ABC NEWS (Australia)

A new Emergency Services Tax is expected to pass parliament at some point tonight – the emergency services levy has attracted anger from farmers. But its progress through the parliament seems assured after the government struck a deal with the cross bench.

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00:00150km away from parliament, drought affected farmers are preparing to dig into their pockets.

00:09Our communities are dying as it is, we don't need more of this to just push them over the line.

00:15Ticked off over a new emergency services tax being debated in the upper house.

00:20If passed, it will replace the fire services levy charged alongside council rates.

00:26We're about 4,000 something for fire service levy near, I think it will go to 14,000 or somewhere there about.

00:32Farmers are disgusted by this, I just see it as a cash grab by the Labor government.

00:37The new more expensive levy will fund more services, not just fire brigades but also the SES State Control Centre and Triple Zero.

00:46These funds that will be levied against property owners will be directed 100% into our emergency services.

00:55Farmers from across the state have been rallying against the changes.

01:00But a deal with the Greens has all but paved the legislation's path through parliament.

01:05Whoever's done a deal with the government today should be disqualified from ever talking about cost of living pressures again.

01:11This is a great big new tax and all Victorians are going to have to pay irrespective.

01:16We will look at any amendments on their merits.

01:19Amendments include more transparency around how money's been spent and reducing the rate at which farm properties are taxed.

01:27Which is a reduction of around $3 a week for your average farm.

01:30It might not be enough to bring seething farmers on side.

01:34Nicole Asher, ABC News, Melbourne.

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