Regional communities and farmers are set to be hit hardest by the State Government’s Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund, with some facing payment hikes of up to 189 per cent.
Gippsland East MP, Tim Bull, slams the “tax grab” which will punish those who can least afford it, despite the Treasurer recently stating the new tax targets “those who can afford it”.
“Pleasingly the proposal has also been opposed by East Gippsland and Wellington Shire Councils and Rural Councils Victoria,” Mr Bull said.
“The government says the tax is to fund agencies like the State Emergency Service and Triple Zero Victoria and while no one opposes these agencies and the great job they do, the reality is they were previously funded through general revenue.
“The Allan Labor Government now plans to raise $2 billion over three years via the new tax, a move that is more about plugging Labor’s debt than improving services.
“If every dollar is going to emergency services as claimed, where is the money that used to fund them from general revenue now being spent?” he asked.
“This new tax is to free up cash to pay down Labor’s skyrocketing debt which is forecast to hit $187 billion by next year, and the Government expects property owners to pay for its financial incompetence.
“It’s not just farmers who’ll be slugged, it will impact on every ratepayer. It also puts the collection burden to local councils, who will wrongly bear the brunt of criticism when it is not a council charge.”
Mr Bull welcomed the recent rejection in the Upper House if the Bill that implements this massive tax increase, saying regional Victorians had been given a reprieve, but it is by no means dead and will again be debated when Parliament resumes.
“We need to stop this tax before it pushes honest and hard-working families to the brink,” Mr Bull said.
