Council Reaffirms Position on Emergency Services Tax

Published on 12 June 2025

Council Reaffirms Position on Emergency Services Tax: Calls for Fairer, Smarter Administration

The Rural City of Wangaratta Council has reaffirmed its strong opposition to the Victorian Government’s new Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF) tax, set to replace the Fire Services Property Levy from 1 July 2025.

While Council acknowledges the critical need to fund emergency services, it maintains that the current model unfairly burdens rural ratepayers and places councils in an untenable financial and administrative position.

Rural City of Wangaratta Mayor Irene Grant said,

“We support our emergency services wholeheartedly. But this tax, in its current form, is inequitable and unsustainable. It shifts the burden onto those who already give the most—our volunteers, our farmers, and our rural communities.”

The ESVF will be included on rates notices and be collected by councils. However, if landholders choose to pay council rates and not to pay the tax, the State Revenue Office will collect the tax as a proportion of what’s paid regardless. This places councils at financial risk, and in the undesirable position of recovering unpaid money from ratepayers.

“Council is not a tax collector for the State,” Mayor Grant added. “We are advocating for the State Revenue Office to take over administration and collection of the ESVF to ensure transparency, fairness, and accountability.”

The backlash has been widespread and grassroots. Thousands of CFA volunteers and farmers have rallied on Parliament’s steps, voicing their frustration.

Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria CEO Adam Barnett noted,

“This isn’t a tax on the rich—it’s a tax on everyday Victorians. And it’s being levied on those who already volunteer their time and risk their lives.”

Council has joined with the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV), the Regional Cities group, and local MPs to call for urgent reform. A petition signed by Council was recently tabled in Parliament by State Member Tim McCurdy.

During the Rural City of Wangaratta’s May Council meeting council resolved the following Notice of Motion: "Council strongly advocates to peak Local Government organisations and appropriate State Government representatives for action against the implementation of the State Governments ESVF on our Community, for the following reasons: the lack of consultation in implementing the fund; the methodology of collecting the fund; the negative impact on our community”

Council is also concerned about the broader economic ripple effects. As the cost is passed on through rents and local businesses, the impact will be felt by every resident—whether they own land or not.

Council is urging the State Government to:

• Reconsider the structure of the ESVF, particularly its impact on rural and regional communities.
• Transfer collection responsibilities to the State Revenue Office, removing the financial risk from councils.
• Ensure transparency in how funds are allocated and used to directly support frontline services.

“We need a funding model that supports our emergency services without punishing the very communities that sustain them,” said Mayor Grant. “Council will continue to advocate for a fairer system—because our residents deserve nothing less.”