East Gippsland farmers will be temporarily spared following a Victorian Government decision to implement a rate freeze on Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF) levy increases for primary production properties for a further two years.
East Gippsland Shire Council, almost 12 months ago, first called for the abolition of the unjust ESVF levy as it would place significant burden on ratepayers.
Throughout 2025, Council has been unwavering in its advocacy for changes to the levy on behalf of the community calling for the abolition of the ESVF levy or a reconsideration of its variable rates structure.
Mayor Cr Jodie Ashworth said this latest decision was welcome news.
"We were quick to identify the levy as a major issue and have since collaborated with the Municipal Association of Victorian (MAV), Rural Councils Victoria and other Victorian councils to drive this message home to the Victorian Government. It is pleasing to see this advocacy reflected in this latest decision.
The Victorian Government confirmed last week the ESVF variable rate for primary production properties will remain at 28.7 cents per $1,000 of capital improved value, for at least the next two financial years. The fixed rate for non-primary place of residence will also remain at the current rate until July 2027.
Also announced was the lifting of the rebate cap from $5 million to $10m for eligible CFA and SES volunteers for their primary place of residence or primary production land.
Mayor Cr Jodie Ashworth said the decision to pause the levy increases will be welcome news for East Gippsland's 3,500-plus primary producers and others.
"We fully support the MAV and its partners in their efforts to continue to work with the Treasurer's office and the Department of Treasury and Finance to advocate for an updated funding model to reflect the true ongoing ESVF administrative costs for each council."
The ESVF, which replaced the Fire Services Property Levy across Victoria from 1 July 2025, continues to generate considerable concern across the East Gippsland community, particularly in agricultural and commercial sectors who would face high levy charges under the new regime.
"The Government's pledged to keep the levy at the 2024-25 rate for primary production properties for the 2025-26 financial year was a step in the right direction, and this additional rate freeze is another important step forward," Cr Ashworth said.
"Ultimately, we need Victoria's emergency services to be funded through the State's consolidated revenue stream instead of via the levy."
In addition to its work with the MAV, Council also wrote to crossbench MPs requesting they block the bill to introduce the levy earlier this year, penned an open letter from all councillors expressing our concerns and wrote to the Premier calling for the introduction of a fairer alternative levy model, that would see a modest increase to the levy applied equally to the millions of residential properties across the state.
