The Allan Labor Government has finally admitted that its emergency services tax is unfair after months of community outrage and sustained pressure from the Liberals and Nationals.
Under the cover of a drought support announcement, Labor has quietly paused an increased emergency services tax on to farmers - a cruel and unfair tax hike that would have hit farmers during one of the driest seasons in years.
However, the unfair tax will remain on all other Victorians and the partial pause will be removed in 12 months, leaving every recipient forced to pay the full force of the tax.
Leader of the Opposition, Brad Battin, said the Allan Government's attempt to dress up a humiliating backflip as drought relief won't fool Victorians.
"Jacinta Allan picked a fight with CFA volunteers and farmers - and she lost," Mr Battin said.
"After weeks of spin and denial, Labor has finally admitted what we've been saying all along - this was never about supporting emergency services. It was a desperate cash grab that hurt the very people who protect our communities.
"This is not leadership. This is political damage control.
"Farmers were rightly furious that in the middle of a drought they were being slugged with a 150 per cent increase in emergency service tax."
Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Minister for Emergency Services, Danny O'Brien said the fight against this tax is not over.
"Farmers get a one-year stay of execution but they shouldn't be facing this massive tax slug in the first place. The only way to fix this issue is to scrap the tax altogether.
"Every single household and business in the state is still up for a massive doubling of their emergency services tax from July 1.
"This will hit every Victorian during a cost-of-living crisis and yet the budget papers show a cut in funding for our emergency services.
Shadow Treasurer, James Newbury, said the emergency services tax was always about plugging Labor's budget black hole - not helping the CFA or SES.
"Jacinta Allan has now admitted that her great big new tax is seriously unfair but has refused to fix it permanently.
"The only fix for this tax is to scrap it, which is what the Liberals and Nationals have committed to do.
"We also now know that the Budget surplus, promised only ten days ago, is a total phoney.
"Labor can't manage money and Victorians are paying the price."
