FARMERS across the Mitchell Shire region, and across Victoria, have been spared for 12 months from the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy, and will be capped to pay the same amount of tax as they did in 2024/25.
The levy hike is now expected to be applied from 2026/27, but in the meantime, a drought package has been applied by the State Government.
The new $37.7 million commitment will see farmers be able to access grants which can support drought management and mental health support, which are worth up to $5000.
The move comes after thousands of farmers and CFA firefighters protested against the levy in Melbourne over the last two weeks.
A new taskforce will be commissioned, which will include 13 members from various communities and political parties.
Member for Northern Victoria, Jaclyn Symes, who is sitting on the taskforce, said the move would allow farmers to focus on recovering over the next 12 months.
“By capping the rate of the Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund for primary production properties, we’re ensuring farmers can remain fully focused on their drought response and recovery,” she said.
Premier Jacinta Allan spoke about expanding support across Victoria.
“The increasingly devastating effects of drought aren’t confined by postcode or region – its impacting farmers across Victoria. It’s why we’re expanding support statewide,” she said.
“The new taskforce will bring together Victorians from different communities, different backgrounds and different political parties. Most importantly, it’ll be focused on delivering real relief for farming communities.”
However, the state opposition has attacked Ms Allan’s announcement, saying it was too late to make a discernible difference.
Nationals Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland was particularly scathing of the cutting of funding over the next year.
“Labor promised this new tax would improve emergency services—but the numbers don’t lie. Funding is going backwards, and our local CFA brigades are bearing the brunt,” she said.
“This is a blatant cash grab. The government is growing bureaucracy while leaving volunteers without the tools, trucks, or basic facilities they need to protect our communities.”
Ms Cleeland claimed the CFA was left in limbo as a result of recent announcements.
“This is not how you treat the people who put their lives on the line for us,” she said.
“Every dollar from this tax should be going to the frontline. Instead, Labor is using it to plug budget holes and prop up bureaucracy while leaving our volunteer brigades to beg for scraps.”
Likewise, Liberal Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell said the package needed to provide more support for farmers as the current drought continues.
“Numerous members raised concerns about the level of drought assistance and joined my call for the Victorian Government to extend the support package to all municipalities in the Northern Victoria region,” she said.
“The package announced will offer some assistance for water cartage, and will extend support to all farmers statewide, including in Northern Victoria.
“But the package will not provide any direct financial assistance for feed or fodder delivery, nor subsidise water supply for agricultural purposes.
“Prolonged protests by CFA volunteers and farmers have forced the Allan Labor Government to accept that tripling the emergency services tax on farmers is cruel and heartless—but they had to be dragged kicking and screaming to this backflip, and the pause on the tax increase will not last forever.
“The current support package, which requires farmers to make a co-contribution toward on-farm infrastructure for water and grain storage, is a package to prepare for future droughts—but farmers need support for this drought.
“I will keep fighting to scrap the tax for good, and to get substantial direct assistance to farmers in need right now.”
