The fight against the Victorian Government’s planned Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund continues, with Gippsland farmers, councillors and State opposition representatives again congregating at the steps of Parliament House in Melbourne on Tuesday to express their disgust at what has been labelled a tax grab.
A special delivery was made to Premier Jacinta Allan’s office from South Gippsland’s Brutus the Bull, vacuum sealed and in a gift box, an emphatic statement about what farmers think of the intended emergency services levy and the substantial costs it will impose on them.
Foster North farmer and South Gippsland Shire councillor Scott Rae elaborated on the gift in a Facebook post.
“Brutus has sent some feedback for Jacinta; he’s considered her levy and he thinks it’s bull…., and here is some of Brutus’ finest,” he said, giftbox in hand.
Tuesday’s protest follows a rally a week prior, with the Victorian Government having since struck a deal with crossbenchers to enable it to get the required numbers to pass the legislation, despite the Coalition’s fierce resistance.
South Gippsland Shire Councillor and farmer Nathan Hersey has attended both rallies and again brandished a sign declaring “Agriculture is NOT your Cash Cow!”
The finishing touch is what appears to be a drawing of an angry cow with a downturned mouth.
“With around 80 percent of the workforce in South Gippsland employed in agriculture or associated industries, this levy will have a profound impact in South Gippsland,” Cr Hersey said.
“This impact means less money in our local economy for businesses, less for the bakeries, less for the clothing stores, less for the mechanics, less for the trades, less for the footy clubs.
“The impact will be felt not just by landowners but throughout the region,” Cr Hersey said, noting the new levy would represent a 150 percent increase on agricultural land and around 100 percent on other land, and remove about $5 million from the local economy.
Cr Hersey was joined by his South Gippsland Shire Council colleague Cr Clare Williams, with Cr Meg Edwards of Bass Coast Shire Council, who also attended last week’s rally, displaying a sign stating “The Liberals and Nationals will scrap the tax,” Member for Gippsland South Danny O’Brien standing alongside her with his message that the Nationals will do just that.
