19/05/2025
🚨 Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund (ESVF) 🚨
This is our call for Help… THIS IS OUR 000 CALL.
The Amended Fire Services Levy that was renamed and passed last week, is a stab in the back to the foundations, the backbone and heart and soul of CFA…… OUR FARMERS.
Under the revised Bill will see Farmers be hit with an increase of a minimum of 150% to their Fire Levy. Rest assured that this bill is not limited to farmers only, but will affect everyone. Increase’s will also be found to Residence, Commercial and industrial Property, resulting in everyone in the state feeling the immediate and direct pressure of this “fund” and its flow on effect though the Victorian Economy.
The past year has been very evident visually for everyone to see the effect and hardships that farms have been facing with the current drought. Right now, you can pick a direction from Colac and drive to see paddocks are bare, green coverage is nothing but a mirage, Dams and creeks are dry, and rivers are a trickle of water. We are mid-way through May!
Yet over the summer and fire danger period how many hours did Farmers spend away from the farm fighting fires in their own communities?
How many hours did they spend travelling across the state to help other communities?
How many hours have they spent cleaning, replacing, re-stowing trucks and equipment so the truck is ready to go for the next call?
How many hours have they spent filing out reports and paperwork?
All these hours they have given just like every member of CFA, not because they may benefit from it, not to get paid for it, all for the reason they are good people and can’t stand to see another in suffering.
And now through this, after the unrelenting fire season we have had, the unmerciful weather we have had, Jacinta Allan has stuck her hand out and said we “need” more. How about you give us 150+% more!!
How can you ask this of the community’s that have suffered the most?
How can you ask this of the people who make up the majority of CFA?
How can you ask this of the people who respond to the calls for help for the majority of the state?
As you would have seen and heard, Hundreds of CFA Brigades and Appliances have been marked offline in protest of this bill. Action like this has never been taken by CFA brigades in the history of CFA. These decisions that have been deliberated and discussed by thousands of Volunteers across the state which has left them with a decision that can only be described as "tearing a man in two". With many Members who have been faced with the decision coming from a family legacy of firefighting and the CFA, while we ask how much does it have to cost us for the apparent “privilege” of a fire brigade which we are?
This Cash grab by Jacinta Allan and her dirty deals friends is unfair and unjust to everyone who calls Victoria home. And the implementation of another 7 agencies to be funded out of the “levy” will result in neither of the fire services being better off. And this scam has no intent of better serving fire services, the community and you. This tax won’t help to replace unfit and out of date stations. It won’t help to replace ageing and out of date trucks. It won’t help train members. It won’t help getting a truck to you quicker in your time of need.
IT WON’T HELP VICTORIAN’S AT ALL!!
CFA members rarely ask for anything in return for our time but now we need you!!! We need you to help convince the Governor General this is not what Victoria wants, this is not what you the community wants, this is not what your bank account wants and this is not what your safety wants.
Please stand with us tomorrow and through next week at rallies and protest, ask questions, sign petitions, write to your MP. PLEASE make as much noise as you can about this. Victoria will not be in a better position if this bill is formally introduced. Regional Victoria cannot afford this bill, we can’t afford this. This has already affected millions of Victorians. With some farms considering closing down and selling, while others look to how they will survive and can afford the “Levy”. While some have already paid the hardest and greatest price as this threat is the final straw.
This will affect everyone from the City Centre through to the furthest outreaches of the state.
SO PLEASE HELP US TO SCRAP THE TAX because we have been
Yours sincerely,
Members of the Colac Fire Brigade
Colac Herald Mixx1063 3CS OCR FM
