‘Heartless’ new tax adopted

By Christine McKee

May 16, 2025

Ovens Valley MP Tim McCurdy with CFA volunteers from Baddaginnie brigade and Burramine farmer John Lawless protest outside Parliament House in Melbourne.

It’s been labelled ‘a heartless tax’, a ‘dirty deal’, and ‘a great big new dog of a tax’ but despite the controversy, and protests by Victoria’s farmers and CFA volunteers, Labor’s Emergency Services Volunteer Fund has been passed into law.

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With support from Animal Justice, The Greens and Legalise Cannabis parties, the bill was passed by the Upper House early this morning.

Ovens Valley MP, Tim McCurdy said it was one of the most disgraceful attacks on rural communities he had ever witnessed.

“Farmers across the Ovens Valley are in survival mode,” Mr McCurdy said.

“They are scraping together every last cent to truck in hay and grain just to keep their animals alive in the face of a worsening drought.

“And what does Labor do? They slug them with a tax hike of up to 150 per cent.”

“The ESVF ... will see farmers hit with increases of tens of thousands of dollars.”

Premier Jacinta Allen initially said CFA volunteers and farmers in shires eligible for state drought support would be exempt from the tax, but the Victorian Government has since clarified her comments and said they would not be exempt, but could apply for a rebate after having paid the levy in full.

By Christine McKee