This action is just another dirty attempt at raising money to pay off the states debt and will not help Emergency Services one bit. Statement from the Not in Our Name Alliance to follow
“Statement attributable to Wimmera Farmer Andrew Weidemann AM and UFU Secretary Peter Marshall, leaders of the budget day Not in Our Name protest.
“Today’s announcement is a temporary pause on the collection of this tax for some people. It is not a full moratorium and the tax will still hit businesses and homeowners hard this year.”
“The Government has made clear that the pause for farmers is for this year only.
“The laws will remain on the books, and the tax will hang over the heads of every Victorian – including farmers, business and home owners – for every year to come. The tax will simply continue to pay for the continued attacks on firefighters and their safety.
“We need to see this extra tax discarded entirely, and the laws that enable it repealed so it cannot be reintroduced when the government is no longer facing the intense political pressure that recent protests have produced.
“There should be an immediate public inquiry into the tax, its impact on Victorians, and the political machinations behind today’s announcement.”
ENDS
The Victorian government has announced a temporary backdown on its controversial emergency services levy while pledging more money for struggling farmers.
It will cap its Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF) levy at the 2024/25 rate for all primary production properties across the state for the coming financial year” ENDS
Link to ABC News Story – Click Here