The Nationals’ Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, has launched a scathing attack on the Allan Labor Government for pushing through what she describes as a “sneaky, insidious cash grab,” condemning the new emergency services levy as a betrayal of Victoria’s rural communities.
Despite fierce opposition from the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF), the Country Fire Authority (CFA) and farmers across the state, Labor, with the help of crossbench MPs, forced the legislation through in what Benham labelled a “dirty deal.”
“This is nothing more than a desperate tax from a government that can’t manage money, has run out of ideas, and is now running roughshod over the very people who keep Victoria running,” Ms Benham said.
United Firefighters Union Secretary Peter Marshall was among those who joined The Nationals in the public gallery during a late-night sitting of Parliament to oppose the move.
“For the UFU and Fire Rescue Victoria to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with us in rejecting this tax says everything about how deeply flawed it is,” Ms Benham said. “When Labor’s own allies are speaking out, you know something is seriously wrong.
“This tax has been loudly and clearly rejected — by the UFU, FRV, farmers, local councils, and everyday Victorians and yet Labor still forged ahead. What will it take for this government to listen? When will they start caring more about the people of Victoria than their own political survival?
“Labor has actively made the decision to pour concrete, building Premier Allan’s legacy projects at the expense of the CFA, farmers and the regional Victorian community.”
Ms Benham’s comments were backed by United Firefighters Union Mildura delegate, Luke Alexander, who said the tax “does nothing to do with providing firefighters with additional training or new trucks, even maintaining trucks. It has absolutely nothing to do with improving the fire service. The only thing this does is hide a bit of money in this budget they’re trying to push through.”
Ms Benham also took direct aim at the minor parties and independents who backed the legislation.
“This is the danger of handing power to minor parties and independents; they’ll sell out the communities who voted for them, in backroom deals. Victorians didn’t vote for this tax, but they’re being forced to pay for it.”
She warned the levy would hit regional and farming communities the hardest.
“Farmers in my electorate are already struggling with the burden of economic and drought strain. They are now facing thousands, and in some cases, tens of thousands of dollars in additional costs, which will break some of these people; people who deserve the government’s support, not to be taken advantage of.
“We’ve got CFA trucks going offline in protest and long-time volunteers threatening to walk away. This is the real-world impact of Labor’s reckless, heartless decision. No one is safe from this tax — every single ratepayer in Victoria will be hit. And for what? So Labor can cover up its own financial mismanagement.
Labor can’t manage money, it can’t manage taxes and regional Victorians are paying the price.”
