IF THE Liberals and Nationals were to win government in Victoria on November 28, 2026, they would scrap the controversial Emergency Services Property Levy (ESVF).
As thousands of firefighters and fire trucks descended on State Parliament on Tuesday, May 20, the Victorian Coalition announced that “a tax that rips $765 million a year from Victorian families, farmers and small businesses under the guise of supporting emergency services” would be repealed.
In a statement issued on Tuesday they said the levy, labelled as a “land tax by stealth,” they said Labor’s new levy had doubled or even tripled charges for property owners across the state, with primary producers hit hardest, facing rate hikes of up to 150 per cent.
Under Labor’s changes, they said, a typical home valued at $1 million now attracts a $309 annual charge, while small businesses and farmers are paying thousands more without any guarantee that money will go to frontline services.
Leader of the Opposition, Brad Battin, said the State Government was “once again using a heartless tax hike to plug its budget black hole”.
“Only Labor could try and spin a massive land tax as support for volunteers. This is not about emergency services – it’s about squeezing more cash from Victorians to pay for Labor’s budget blowouts,” Mr Battin said.
“Under our plan, the Liberals and Nationals will repeal the ESVF and return to the simpler, fairer Fire Services Property Levy – a model that funds fire services transparently, without punishing homeowners, renters and farmers.”
Mr Battin said emergency services volunteers deserve genuine support – not confusing rebate schemes and false promises.
“Labor has failed to respect our CFA and SES volunteers. Their funding model is based on deception, and we will scrap it.”
Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Minister for Emergency Services, Danny O’Brien, the Member for Gippsland South said regional Victorians had been hit hardest by Labor’s new tax.
“This cruel tax deserves to be consigned to history. The Liberals and Nationals will make sure it is,” Mr O’Brien said.
“It is a tax that hits regional Victorians particularly hard – and it’s about plugging budget holes, not boosting frontline emergency services.
“Slugging farmers with a 150 per cent increase to what they previously paid is nothing short of callous amid a drought and a cost-of-living crisis.”
Under a Liberals and Nationals Government, Labor’s Emergency Services Property Levy will be scrapped and the simpler, fairer Fire Services Property Levy reinstated, with SES funding secured transparently through the State Budget – not hidden inside property rates, they said.
“This is about fairness, transparency and properly supporting those who protect our communities,” Mr Battin said.
“Labor can’t manage money, can’t manage emergency services and Victorians are paying the price.”
