Council joins call to scrap ‘outrageous’ ESVF tax
Published on 21 May 2025
Northern Grampians Shire Council is standing behind its residents – particularly its farmers – by joining an overwhelming call for the State Government to ‘scrap’ its unjust new Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund, ESVF.
Mayor Karen Hyslop said she was full of outrage and disbelief following the passing of the Fire Services Property Amendment (Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund) Bill 2025 last week.
She said she was deeply concerned about the effects the new tax would have on residents’ capacity to pay, the council’s ability to collect it and the region’s already-stressed economy.
The ESVF replaces the current Fire Services Property Levy and starts on July 1, with the cost added to council rate notices. The variable rate at which the levy is calculated is more than doubled in most instances, with primary producers the hardest hit.
Cr Hyslop said the municipality was expected to contribute $2.3 million to the fund, with farmers collectively contributing an additional 137% compared to the previous year.
“The fund will affect all Victorians, with increases affecting all residents – but no one will feel the full brunt of this enormous financial burden more than farmers,” Cr Hyslop said.
“It is incredibly unjust to impose further pressure on a group of people who are already struggling with the crippling cost of drought and everyday living.
“On top of the dramatically increased cost of inputs over the past five years, without the increase of revenue to match it, farmers are currently also paying to cart water, feed stock – some can’t even afford to pay themselves a wage right now, and yet, the government is demanding they pay more and more – it's outrageous.
“Our farmers certainly understand the importance of funding emergency services, particularly firefighting efforts. Many of our farmers double as volunteer firefighters and when needed, drop everything on their farm to help protect life and property – whether they are personally affected or not.”
Cr Hyslop, along with municipal leaders from across regional Victoria, has spent months advocating against the amendment due to grave concerns about residents’ ability to pay the new tax.
“I attended the first protest on the steps of Parliament House last week, trying to convince politicians to vote against the bill, and it was plain to see how many people in regional Victoria are hurting," she said.
She said she would continue to call on the government to ‘scrap the tax’ and was currently in consultation with other municipal leaders in the region, considering next steps.
Municipal Association of Victoria, of which Northern Grampians Shire Council is a member, has passed a series of resolutions to try to get the government to collect the levy.
“Councils have their own role to play and should not be forced to collect taxes on behalf of the State Government,” Cr Hyslop said.
“The State Revenue Office can send out bills for land tax, there’s no reason they can’t collect the ESVF payments themselves.
“They know this tax is unpopular, that people won’t want to pay it, and they are pushing the burden of collection and chasing up missed payments onto councils, which are already stretched as it is.
“The government has promised some additional resources to help councils with the administration of the payment, but we don’t have any details about that. How soon is this going to happen? When people don’t pay – because they refuse to or simply can’t afford to – councils will be left to carry the debt.”
Cr Hyslop said there needed to be a more equitable solution, particularly considering the state was in a period of drought.
On Friday, the State Government pledged an additional $15.9 million in drought support for farmers, with Northern Grampians Shire now being included as an eligible Local Government Authority.
The support package includes infrastructure grants and financial counselling for farmers.
Cr Hyslop said the infrastructure grants, of up to $5000, were on a dollar-for-dollar basis.
“Farmers have to spend money to get drought support, so the drought package is tokenistic at best,” she said.
She said the metal health ramifications of the state of drought, the ESVF, a tough fire season, concerns about transmission lines and renewable energy proposals, and the general cost of living could have grave consequences.
“The whole community is worried,” she said.
“I haven’t spoken to one person in favour of this new levy. We are very concerned about how people will cope with this on top of everything else.”
Cr Hyslop said she was also concerned for business owners, especially those in Halls Gap recovering from devastating financial loss due to the December-January fires in Grampians National Park.
“Businesses in Halls Gap are in recovery mode and although the government has finally announced the guidelines for recovery money, it is way short of what we were hoping for and what they need,” she said.
“For these businesses – particularly if they own their own shop – the ESVF just isn't fair.
“We and our community have been advocating for months, but the government just isn’t listening.”
Cr Hyslop encouraged anyone struggling with mental health to call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
“I’d also like to encourage people to look out for one another,” she said.
“If you know somebody who is experiencing mental health or think you know somebody who’s struggling, please keep an eye on them and keep checking in on one another.”