Horsham Rural City Council (HRCC) has strongly condemned the Victorian Government's decision to increase the Emergency Services Levy (ESL), warning it will unfairly burden the municipality and strike hardest at the heart of its farming and rural communities.
At the June Council Meeting, Councillors unanimously opposed the Emergency Services Volunteer Fund. Council is considering joining a growing coalition of regional councils, including Loddon Shire, to strengthen advocacy and send a united message to the Victorian Government calling for a full review of the levy.
In recent weeks, HRCC has stepped up its advocacy efforts. Cr Klowss and Cr Sluggett stood in solidarity with thousands of farmers and CFA volunteers at a rally on the steps of Parliament, demanding the government reconsider its approach.
"Council vehemently opposes the Emergency Services Volunteer Fund in its current form. It is inequitable, unjust, and disproportionately impacts regional communities," said Mayor Cr Ross.
"We are calling on the Victorian Government to listen to our people and scrap this legislation without delay," he said. "And as the Bill is currently awaiting Royal Assent, we respectfully urge the Honourable Prof. Margaret Gardner AC, Governor of Victoria, to exercise her reserve powers and withhold assent. This is not just a matter of policy—it's a matter of fairness for rural Victorians."
"The timing and scale of this increase is deeply unjustifiable," Cr Ross said. "Families, farmers, and small businesses across our municipality are already grappling with a cost-of-living crisis. For the State Government to impose this kind of financial pressure now is not only unfair—it's unacceptable."
While Council acknowledges the Government's recent announcement that it will cap the Emergency Services Volunteer Fund (ESVF) levy at the 2024–25 rate for all primary production properties in 2025–26, Cr Ross said the concession does not go far enough to ease the burden.
Council is also challenging the broader issue of being forced to collect what is effectively a State Government tax. HRCC argues this practice places local governments in an unfair position and erodes public trust in the rates system.
"This levy isn't just a financial hit—it's a blow to the dignity and resilience of the people who call Horsham home," Cr Ross said.
"We will continue to stand up and speak out for the people we represent. We will not back down."
