Overview
- The Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund legislation passed in the early hours of May 16 and will take effect on July 1, replacing the Fire Services Property Levy.
- The levy nearly doubles rates, increasing residential property charges and raising primary production land rates from 28.7 cents to 71.8 cents per $1000 of capital improved value.
- A crossbench deal reduced farmer rates, introduced rebates for drought-affected farmers and eligible volunteers, and earmarked $110 million for fleet replacements.
- Volunteer firefighters in regional brigades protested the increased levy by going offline, leaving some communities without fire protection overnight.
- Critics, including the United Firefighters Union and opposition parties, argue the levy is a revenue grab to address state debt rather than a genuine emergency services funding reform.