General News
23 May, 2025
Local fire brigades continue to stand with community
Brigades across the state protested outside Parliament on Tuesday, standing in unity with regional farmers.
Thousands of volunteers and regional Victorians made their voices heard on State Budget day, rallying against the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF).
The new tax, which replaces the existing Fire Services Property Levy (FSPL) on July 1, will see farmers pay 150 percent more than they did under the original legislation — costing many tens of thousands of dollars.
While emergency service volunteers are entitled to a rebate the ESVF has to be paid upfront.
Furthermore, recognising the dry weather and pressure on farmers, the State Government are offering a partial drought rebate — although farmers in the Central Goldfields Shire aren’t eligible.
While farmers will be impacted most, including many local CFA volunteers, Goldfields CFA Group Officer Peter Higgins reminded the community everyone will be impacted.
“We lose,” he said.
Mr Higgins reminds the community, however, that local CFA volunteers stand with them.
“That’s why we join CFA, to protect the community,” he said.
Since the legislation passed last week half the brigades in the Goldfields group went offline joining hundreds across the state.
However, many local brigades considered this decision a last resort.
Bealiba Fire Brigade First Lieutenant Tony Mortlock said the decision to go offline was a “show of force” yet a difficult choice after 45 years in the CFA.
“I can’t in my heart leave it off too long,” he said.
Carisbrook Fire Brigade Captain Ian Boucher chose to remain online, despite supporting the protest, to continue protecting the community.
“We all join the fire brigade to protect life and property,” he said.
Members from both Mr Mortlock and Mr Boucher’s brigades attended the protest earlier this week.
Joining them was Moolort, Natte Yallock, Mt Cameron, members from Bowenvale, and local CFA volunteers that went down independently.
While local brigades were represented in force, Mr Higgins didn’t want to risk the community.
“I didn’t want a lot of our trucks going down in case something happened here,” he said.
Because, to Mr Higgins, the grass-roots movement isn’t just for farmers, or CFA volunteers, but the whole community.