Emergency services levy needs to be repealed for many reasons

Published on 27 June 2025

Loddon Shire Council has called on the Victorian Government to immediately repeal the legislation that brought the Emergency Services Volunteer Fund (ESVF) levy into being before it causes havoc with many more bottom lines.

Council resolved at its June monthly meeting to continue to condemn the levy and call for its immediate repeal, following a similar motion at the May meeting.

Loddon Shire Mayor Dan Straub said while the State Government recently announced temporary changes to the ESVF, giving primary producers a 12-month reprieve from paying an increased levy, this did not lessen the burden for other large sections of the community.

“Commercial and industrial property owners will still have to pay much increased levies, tens of thousands of dollars for some Loddon businesses, while the burden is also substantially greater for residential ratepayers as well,” Cr Straub said.

“We also continue to be concerned that the recent changes are only a temporary reprieve for primary producers and without further action they will be in the same position next year.

“And to be clear, this is not just a Loddon Shire issue, it is a statewide issue, affecting rural, regional and metropolitan residents alike.

“This levy or tax is unaffordable for everyone.”

There could also be substantial impacts to Council’s financial position, following calls from some protest groups to refuse to pay the ESVF portion of the rates bill.

“We understand and sympathise with those calls to withhold what they believe is the levy payment, however, any payment of rates made to council is apportioned to the individual parts of the rates notice, meaning the ESVF levy will still be paid in part and council would not receive the full amount of council rates. Council would then be required to enforce the outstanding payments for both council rates and the levy,” Cr Straub said.

“Any reduction in the amount ratepayers choose to pay will directly affect Council’s bottom line and limit our capacity to deliver services and infrastructure.

“The only fair and just solution is for the State Government to immediately repeal this tax.”