A local MP says a new emergency services tax will kill the local agriculture sector.
Early Friday morning, the Emergency Services and Volunteers Levy passed State Parliament, replacing a fire services levy.
Regional Cities Victoria reports the former tax took nearly $15 million out of the Ballarat economy each year, with the new levy reportedly seeing that figure surge to more than $21 million.
Liberal Member for Western Victoria, Joe McCracken, says the Government has delivered a massive kick in the guts to Ballarat and country Victorians.
“We’re going to see farmers walking off the land, we’re going to see our CFA brigades depleted [with] no more new members,” he said.
“They’re already walking off now. They’re not going to be coming back. They’re going to be too busy trying to save their own livelihoods.”
Labor Member for Ripon, Martha Haylett, says she will continue to raise feedback from locals over the levy to relevant ministers.
In a post to Facebook, Ms. Haylett says there has been some changes, including partial refunds on the fund for farmers in drought impacted areas.
Eligible CFA and SES volunteers will also receive a full refund on the fund for their primary residence.
