Victorian farmers and CFA volunteers rally on the steps of parliament house. Image – VFF Facebook.
VICTORIAN farmers have been urged to contact their local Members of Parliament — and especially Greens and crossbench MPs – to protest proposed changes to the fire emergency services levy.
Victorian Farmers Federation president Brett Hosking said police estimated more than 400 people attended a rally against the changes in Spring Street Melbourne yesterday.
Mr Hosking said now is the time to for farmers contact their local MP and say no to the unfair increases that will hit rural communities the hardest.
Under the proposal, the VFF estimates the median levy for farmers would jump by 109 percent; from $621 to $1299.
“That’s not reform.
“That’s a blow to those who grow our food and protect our land,” the VFF said in a social media post.
The VFF is calling for a cap on levy increases, fairer classification and rate setting, and a rebate for CFA volunteers.
Mr Hosking said the Greens and other crossbench MPs have an important role to play in opposing the changes, which come up in legislation due to voted on in parliament tomorrow.
“Some have declared their support and others are keeping their cards close to their chests.
“The Greens are passionate about rural areas and making sure we preserve our natural environment, so the logic in that would suggest they will land on the side of the CFA volunteers who provide exactly that service.”
Mr Hosking said Coalition, Greens and some crossbench support is needed to defeat the legislation.
He said crossbench and Greens MPs have a really important role to play on the issue.
“The deputy leader of the Greens, Sarah Mansfield is an Upper House MP, the Greens MLC for Western Victoria, so I am well aware of farmers right across western Victoria who have been actively reaching out to her and her office and talking to her about the impact it is going to have on their businesses, communities and families, and even on their ability to volunteer, given that they will have to make up lost income from somewhere.”
He said if the changes came in farmers would have less disposable income be working harder or have less staff on farm, which ultimately means fewer people on the back of a fire truck.
“Helping them (the Greens) to understand that link between profitability and our ability to serve our community is really important.”
This is disgusting treatment of hard working Australians like this.
Victoria is on fire
The farmers have been on strike, with a convoy of fire trucks heading for town, and protest on the steps of Parliament; unlike unemployed, professional activists, it takes a lot to make them leave their work unattended. For several days, protests continue, and the state government has blinked, postponing a decision to the 16th.
In this case, the reason is a sudden and unacceptable demand for extra taxes to pay for fire-fighting, a task already fulfilled by those who are being charged. The Victorian Government is broke, but has picked the wrong fight for extra income.
Unlike many Victorians who are escaping North, farmers are tied to the land; with increasing environmental restrictions, it is becoming harder to make a living. With swelling state debt, the “COVID debt levy” has increased, and land tax has soared by 2300% over 10 years. The latest blow comes with the introduction of a new Fire Services Levy, with $200 million extra to come from the bush, an average 100% increase in charges; some larger land-holders will be paying tens of thousands extra, one example an increase from $3000 to $16,000. Picketing by Farmers and their fire trucks, outside Parliament has, for now, put the bill on hold.
The iniquity of this proposal is that fires in the bush are still fought primarily by rural fire brigade volunteers, in their own time, often with their own equipment. The extra charge will supposedly go to fire services, but the increase in running costs has resulted from a forced amalgamation with the United Firefighters Union, to fund extra bureaucracy. The farmers have specifically demanded a rebate for the volunteers.
In 2016, following 2 years of political pressure, the Country Fire Authority (CFA), with 1200 branches, amalgamated with city United Firefighters Union (UFU); after disagreements with the PM, Dan Andrews, Emergency Minister Jane Garret over union influence, she quit the ministry. The IBAC (Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission) investigated multiple legal challenges to the amalgamation, including proven hacking of CFA executive emails, with no finding of illegal behaviour. The union grab for power, was successful, with a Bill confirming amalgamation passing in 2019, in 2020 forming Fire Rescue Victoria, with administration of the original CFA controlled by the original UFU.
This union takeover resulted in the resignation of several thousand country volunteer firefighters, with numbers down from 54,000 to 51,000, in the 1200 brigades. The city-based UFU has over 5000 paid members, numbers up by 5% since amalgamation, the secretary is paid over $450,000, his power has increased with his new membership numbers. The Union is a strong financial supporter of Labor, even handing out “How to vote” cards at the state elections. Following Premier Andrew’s sudden departure, nothing has changed under Jacinta Allan; it is fortunate that rural firefighters have an interest in protecting their homes and farms and, of necessity, have remained.
Bushfires have always been part of Australia’s identity, no less so in Victoria; big fires occurred in 1851, 1939, and 1983, the worst in history was Black Saturday, in 2009, when 173 died; despite climate activist commentary, there is no evidence of increased events. Early this year, lightning strikes ignited fires in the Grampian region, but there are other explanations, including agricultural activity, camp fires, smoking and matches; arson is an increasingly common cause.
With the added imposition of wind turbines, there is a new fire risk as they can catch fire and cause grass fires. Average rainfall was down around 20% in 2023-24, with the North-West the driest part of the state; but there has been no overall change in the last century, and this year above average falls.
The imposition of central control for fire services has caused much anger, compounded by increased charges to the bush. There is a long history of collusion between the unions and Labor; as far back as the red-shirts election rorting in 2014. Dubious relationships with the belatedly suspended CFMEU, have added much to the state infrastructure building program’s cost, and debt is out of control. Adding to the longest lockdowns in the world, is the bill for cancelled Commonwealth Games and work from home for public servants, it is no wonder there is a move North.
Chairman Dan, already on a pension of $300,000, has a nice little earner as Chairman of Orygen, a youth mental health foundation; rubbing salt into the wound, he has a brass statue, costing $100,000, erected in his honour. He has left behind a basket case economy, one which, but for an inept and demoralised opposition, should have resulted in a change of government. If, and when, that change occurs, it will be time to reveal Labor’s improper involvement, not only with unions, but the police and judiciary. As the state and federal coalition remains in disarray, the reckoning may be a long time coming!
In Holland, the farmers had success in 2019, with the “nitrogen wars”, when the climate politicians wanted to shut down cattle; they blocked the streets with their tractors. This led to the formation of the Farmer-Citizens Movement, gaining one fifth of the seats in Parliament at the next election, forming government with other right-wing parties, and attacking European Union edicts. Maybe the farming Firies can do the same job!!
Graham Pinn May 2025, 900 words
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