Incorporating the Nagambie Times and Violet Town Sentinel
AVENEL - EUROA - LONGWOOD - NAGAMBIE - STRATHBOGIE - VIOLET TOWN Wednesday, May 21, 2025
editor@euroa-gazette.com.au
euroagazette.com.au
$2.00 inc GST
Mushrooms pop up
Page 11
LIKING THE LIKENESS LONGWOOD’S Rebecca Threlfall was thrilled to be one of Andrew Bond’s subjects in his series of portraits of locals he has as part of a wider exhibition in Euroa library. Full story page 12. PHOTO: Andy Wilson
Gecko plans unfold
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CFA: it’s not over
By ANDY WILSON
A LATE night sitting of Victoria’s upper house which saw the passing of the government’s Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund (ESVF) has failed to quell vocal opposition to the new law. After a marathon sitting on Thursday, the
Street as the Late night crossbench deal secures levy Spring crowd heard from
government passed the bill with help from the crossbench, including the Greens, Animal Justice Party, and Legalise Cannabis Victoria, after negotiating amendments which included an average reduction of $150 per year.
Local farmers who have spoken to The Euroa Gazette have said they face increases to the levy of up to and over $4000. The ESVF replaces the previous cheaper Fire Services Levy and will be charged along with council
rates each year. On Tuesday 13 May, over 400 CFA and SES volunteers and staff crammed Parliament House’s steps to protest against the levy. Five fire trucks and other support vehicles blocked one lane of
went beyond just farmers. “Every single Victorian who pays rates will be hit by leaders of peak farming this cruel tax,” Ms Cleeland groups and opposition said. parliamentarians, with “To hit regional protesters chanting ‘scrap the tax’ between speeches. communities with this new tax while they’re already Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland attended battling drought and cost-of-living pressures is the rally and said on Friday that the amended legislation unconscionable. ■ Continued page 2 remained a ‘betrayal’ that