Council formalises Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund stance

Published on 26 May 2025

Gannawarra Shire Council has formalised its opposition to the State Government’s implementation of the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund.

Councillors approved an urgent item motion at last week’s Council meeting opposing the fund, which will come into effect in July to support VICSES, Triple Zero Victoria, the State Control Centre, Forest Fire Management Victoria and Emergency Recovery Victoria, as well as the Country Fire Authority (CFA) and Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV).

“My fellow Councillors and are all in agreeance of our opposition to this blatant tax grab that will impact all residents, business owners and communities across the Gannawarra,” Mayor Garner Smith said.

“Using our communities to prop up a State Government that is in financial trouble is not the answer to its problems. In fact, it creates more issues for many of our landowners, who have already been hit with massive increases in land tax.”

As part of the adopted motion, a report will be tabled at the June 2025 meeting outlining:

The levy’s estimated cost to residents;
The cost to Council to collect the levy on behalf of the State Government, assuming the reluctance of residents to pay the levy; and
Any options Council can exercise to not collect the levy or separate it from the general rates notices issued to landowners.

Council will also lobby the State Government to collect the levy via the State Revenue Office.

“Many of our residents have already indicated that they will not pay the levy as part of their municipal rates, which will leave Council to effectively be a debt collector for the State Government,” Mayor Smith said.

“Council’s ability to provide services our residents rely on will also be impacted if we are asked to collect this levy. Any funds not collected will result in us being in debt to the State Government, which will affect how we fund our local services.

“I would like to thank my fellow Councillors for acting swiftly on this very important matter for our community.”