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LOUD AND CLEAR FATAL CRASH PAGE 7
The Emergency Services Levy has raised the ire of locals. Farmers and firefighters marched down Commerical Road, Morwell last week, calling on the state government to “scrap the tax” Photograph: Blake Metcalf-Holt By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT AND AIDAN KNIGHT
NO more. Enough is enough. Scrap the tax. THESE were just a few of the sentiments that flowed through the local protest against the recently instated Emergency Services Levy Bill last Tuesday (May 20), which began outside the Morwell office of state government frontbencher Harriet Shing. Close to 150 people of a mix of farmers, volunteer firefighters, and supporting and effected citizens assembled to renounce the new changes, with police blocking the section of road just before 10am for the peaceful yet explicit demonstration. After discussions between organisers and local police, plans shifted and many protesters marched up Commercial Road to the Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court, which was still in the thick of the Erin Patterson Trial, making their voice loud and clear.
The doubled rates were confirmed days out from the Victorian State Budget, expanding the previous Fire Services Property Levy (FSPL) into a broader fund which extends to services such as the SES and Emergency Recovery Victoria under the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund Levy (ESVF). To secure crossbench support, the state government agreed to amend the bill, dropping the levy for farmers from an initially proposed variable rate of 83 cents per $1000 of the value of the land to 71.8c per $1000. Beforehand, under the FSPL, it was 28.7c per $1000. The ESVFL is to officially replace the FSPL and begin on July 1. Boisdale farmer Tom Howson made the trip down to the Latrobe Valley to show his support and distain for the recent changes, and how it’s deeply effecting his cattle farm. “People from the country are fed up with the state government spending more money in the city when we’re not going to benefit, and (then) they come into the country and try and pillage us to get the money to try and pay for their mistakes,” he said. “I’m semi-retired, still farming,
still got a few cattle or so, but it just increases. “Tax, everything has gone up, cattle’s gone up a bit, but in 1970 we were still getting $500 for a cow, now you might get $1500, but the cost-wise from ’70 to now is ridiculous.” Lieutenant of Heyfield Fire Brigade, Phil Graham addressed the Morwell crowd from atop one of the many tankers positioned along Commercial Rd, giving voice to the many fed up and disheartened. “Why do we have to fund it? Why are we the ones scratching through the change in the console of our farm utes trying to find a dollar to give to them? It’s just not fair,” he said. “We need to send the message, it needs to go loud and clear. “So, Jacinta Allan if you can hear me, if you’d listen - you’re hurting us. “You’re really hurting us. We don’t have any more for you anymore Jacinta, so stop trying to take it off us.” With everyone present standing together against the instatement, Lt. Graham also made an impassioned message about how his fellow CFA
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members and local police figures must put their arms around the rest of the community. “We’ve all got our stories. It’s all going to hurt us in many, many different ways. Just stay strong, stay respectful,” he said. “I see all of the CFA people here along with me, remember our communities. “We are leaders in our communities - be leaders - I implore you all, everyone that wears yellow or a blue uniform, you are a leader in your community. “You need to have the ability for other members of the community to lean on your shoulder, you need to lead through strength. “It’s now more than ever, there’s no fires burning in the bush, but it’s now more than ever that we need to support our communities. Not just with a hose and with a branch and a big red truck, but we need to be there side-by-side with the other members of our community to support them, because they’re going to struggle and suffer too.” Continued - Page 6
STATE BUDGET PAGE 8
TRARALGON MARATHON THIS SUNDAY - PAGE 45