Nationals slam Labor’s Emergency Services Tax as regional communities win first round

The Nationals Member for Ovens Valley, Tim McCurdy, has declared the Allan Labor Government’s failure to pass its controversial Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF) in Parliament last week a major win for regional communities and a clear sign the tax is “rotten to the core.”

The rebranded and doubled Emergency Services Levy, now called the ESVF, was shelved after Labor failed to secure crossbench support — a major blow to Premier Jacinta Allan and her out-of-touch tax agenda.

“The Allan Labor Government only knows how to do two things, and that's spend money and tax Victorians,” Mr McCurdy said.

“This latest tax that they're trying to get through the Parliament of Victoria is an absolute disgrace. It's going to hurt regional communities - it's going to hurt all Victorians, but regional communities are going to be hurt the most."

Mr McCurdy said the Nationals have been standing shoulder-to-shoulder with regional communities, farmers and volunteers who would be hit hardest under Labor’s plan.

“This is a tax on country Victoria to clean up Melbourne’s mess. CFA brigades, SES units, and Coast Guard volunteers are still holding raffles for basic gear, while Labor is funnelling billions into city bureaucracies that should already be funded.”

With Labor refusing to reveal where the $2.1 billion would go, Mr McCurdy called on the government to scrap the tax completely and provide levy exemptions for emergency service volunteers.

“This was never about better funding volunteers — it’s about propping up a budget black hole. The Nationals will continue fighting until this unfair tax is scrapped for good.”

“Labor can’t manage money, can’t manage emergency services and regional Victorians are paying the price.”

VFBV District 23 President, Garry Nash, said that only a fraction of the money would come back to volunteers in the regions.

“It is really disgraceful and despicable that the state government plays rhetoric to volunteer fire services and volunteers SES and tries to put a tax through under the guise of a volunteer fund,” Mr Nash said.

“The rhetoric is wonderful when we're out there doing the job for saving, looking after our communities and doing all those wonderful things… but that's where it ends.”

“We want to see some support, some physical support with looking after our members, with replacing our 35-year-old tankers, replacing fire stations, and giving an opportunity for a diverse group of firefighters to be able to change.”