In the face of climate change, with increased bushfires, floods and storms, it’s critical that emergency services have the funding they need to keep the community safe. We only need to look to the fires in LA to see what happens when emergency services are under-resourced.
The Victorian Greens share the concerns that have been raised by farmers and firefighters about Labor’s changes to the fire services levy, and have pushed the government to make significant changes to make the levy fairer and ensure it commits real, additional funding for our emergency services and firefighters.
Labor’s original proposal had a lot of problems. It was going to redirect money from this levy to fund government administration, while leaving key emergency services like firefighters without the basic funding to replace their fleet of aging, unsafe firetrucks – which puts firefighters, and the whole community, at risk.
In summary, the Greens have secured the following significant changes to gain our support for the legislation which also requires the support of other crossbench MPs to pass:
- Increased funding for emergency services – instead of the new levy providing no more than 87.5% of FRV annual funding, it will now be required to provide no less than 90% of FRV annual funding and no less than 95% of funding for the CFA and SES.
- Guaranteed $10 million every year ongoing, for a rolling fleet replacement program for out-of-date firetrucks for FRV, on top of the funds for rolling fleet replacement for the CFA and additional money for vehicles for the SES.
- Key amendments that ensure the levy is strictly used for frontline emergency services and not a dollar can be used for other government administration.
- Exemptions for farmers experiencing hardship due to drought.
- A significant additional drought relief package for farmers.
- Additional $15 million for support for farmers to reduce their energy bills.
- A commitment to a reduced levy rate for primary production land.
People expect that 100% of this levy go towards properly funding frontline emergency services we rely on, like safe and reliable firetrucks – which is why the Greens have ensured every dollar will go towards funding frontline emergency responders and have secured guaranteed funding for a rolling firetruck fleet replacement for both the FRV and CFA, which makes sure every firetruck is replaced when they reach retirement age.
The Greens are deeply concerned about farmers facing drought and have secured changes that will exempt them from the increased levy and expand drought-affected areas to cover more farmers. We’ve also pushed the government to agree to a major drought relief package to be announced before the state Budget and significant additional support for farmers to reduce their energy bills.
All this legislation does is provide a legal tool to provide secure, ongoing funding for our emergency services into the future. The rate of the levy is not part of the legislation and is set by the Treasurer separately.
Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell:
“With increased bushfires, floods and droughts, we need fully funded emergency services to keep us all safe – so we don’t face a horrific situation like the LA fires.
“Labor’s original levy had some serious problems, so the Greens pushed for significant changes. These changes mean farmers experiencing hardship from drought will be exempt from the increased levy, firefighters will have proper secure and ongoing funding including to replace their ageing trucks, and amendments will ensure every dollar goes to emergency services and can’t be spent to plug government budget holes.”