Thousands of CFA and VicSES who own a business have been denied access to rebates on their
commercial properties under the Allan Government’s new emergency services property tax, which comes
into effect on July 1.
Farmers can claim a tax rebate on up to $5m of their land, but the government is not extending the same
offer to volunteers with commercial or industrial properties.
It means that while a farmer who volunteers for the CFA gains a full rebate on $5m of their land, a fellow
brigade member with a business of the same value in town will pay $6925.
Even a small-business owner with a $1m commercial property faces paying $1605 under the new
emergency services tax regime, compared to $939 under the current fire services property levy