High Country Times
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
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LOCAL CFA, FARMERS AND COUNCIL SAY STATE TAX IS A BETRAYAL OF THE BUSH Budget ignores Mansfield Page 9
MACE celebrates 50 years Page 15 STANDING FIRM: Mansfield Deputy Mayor and CFA volunteer Cr James Tehan joined over 5000 protestors on the steps of Parliament House last week in a powerful show of rural resistance to the new emergency services levy. Cr Tehan, a long-time farmer, said he had “never seen such feeling like this” in the bush and called the levy’s timing during a severe drought “an absolute disgrace.” PHOTO: Duong Nguyen
Spring Street disgrace By ANDY WILSON
did not mince words in taking aim at the government’s lack of communication with councils before THE message from farmers the levy’s announcement. and CFA volunteers was made “At no time was there any prior clear on Tuesday, 20 May as over consultation,” Cr Rabie said. 5000 protestors used emergency “There was zero consultation - I vehicles to block the Spring and think that is disgraceful in the least.” Bourke Streets intersection outside Cr Rabie said the shire had been Parliament House to protest the ‘very loud’ with its message. state government’s new emergency “We oppose this massive increase at services levy. this time, when there’s a drought on, A cavalcade of over 100 CFA fire trucks and other emergency vehicles when there’s a cost-of-living crisis and when there is mental stress,” he said. from all over the state had slowed “Everybody will be affected by this major arterial freeways and roads tax. into Melbourne that morning to “You can’t increase a levy by 189 bring the new levy to the attention per cent and not expect people to of Melbourne residents and the jump up and down.” government. Cr Rabie also said almost all Mansfield Shire Mayor Steve councils meeting through Rural Rabie attended the rally with Councils Victoria and the Municipal Deputy Mayor James Tehan and
Association of Victoria were opposed to the government’s expectation for councils to collect the levy. “The State Revenue Office should be collecting this state government tax and not the local governments,” he said. “We absolutely oppose the collection of this because it’s not only going to be a cost shift for the shire but also a reputational shift onto us as well. “Local government is the only level of government with a front desk, and our staff in the rates office and those on the front desk, they will get hammered. “I have a responsibility for (staff ) welfare, and I am worried that they will most probably receive angry calls and have angry people coming in.” State Liberal and Nationals leaders
Brad Battin and Danny O’Brien told the rally that a coalition government would repeal the levy legislation if elected in 18 months-time. “We will ensure that we will cancel this tax,” Mr Battin said. “We will guarantee you that we will scrap it once and for all and hand that money back to Victorians.” CFA group officer Pat Millear from Westmere addressed the crowd and listed off all fires attended to by volunteers since Black Saturday 2009 when all of Victoria’s units were in service. He commended those present for their duty. “You never complain and never get paid; you are on call 24 hours a day and seven days a week,” Mr Millear said. ■ Continued pages 4-5
Home & Garden feature Pages 23-28
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