Georgia Tacey
Sunbury residents will be protesting the new Emergency Services Volunteer Fund Levy.
On Tuesday, May 20, residents will gather outside Sunbury MP Josh Bull’s office, to demand answers on the new levy.
Protestors will invite Mr Bull to speak to them, and explain the impact this tax will have on ratepayers, including CFA volunteers, farmers, renters and all homeowners.
The controversial bill passed parliament on Friday, May 16, with many across the state angered by the result.
This won’t be the only protest happening on May 20, with a planned rally happening at the same time at Parliament House in Melbourne.
Mr Bull said he will not be in attendance.
“The State Budget will be handed down in the Victorian Parliament and as a Member of the Government I will be performing my responsibility in the Legislative Assembly,” he said.
“The Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund is about making sure our emergency services have the funding and equipment they need to keep Victorians safe and to recover from bushfires, floods and storms – which are happening more often.”
He said he’s met with and engaged the local emergency services often, and they have long called for a sustainable funding model.
“The Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund makes sure all our emergency services have the tools and resources they need to keep Victorians safe and brings funding for our emergency services in line with other states,” he said.
“Every single dollar raised by the new Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund will support our emergency services – helping them to keep communities safe year-round. The ESVF will continue to provide funding for Fire Rescue Victoria and the Country Fire Authority, as the Fire Services Property Levy did.
“The ESVF will also provide funding for other emergency and disaster response services including VICSES, Triple Zero Victoria, the State Control Centre, Emergency Management Victoria, Emergency Recovery Victoria and Forest Fire Management Victoria. These services operate throughout Victoria and provide assistance where it is needed most.”
