‘Dirty deal’: Union boss lashes out over Greens-Labor fire levy pact

Union boss Peter Marshall has slammed the Greens and Labor for their secret deal to push through the $2bn fire services tax before next week’s state budget, calling it a “gross perversion.”

Militan union boss Peter Marhsall has waged war on the Victorian Greens after they struck a secret eleventh hour deal to help the Allan government pass its $2bn new fire services tax.

Despite fierce backlash from firefighters, CFA volunteers, councils, property figures and the opposition, the Emergency Services and Volunteer fund is expected to pass parliament on Thursday after the government scrambled to secure last minute support to avoid leaving a $2bn blackhole in next week’s state budget.

Victorian households, farmers and business owners will be slugged with higher taxes from July 1 when the new and increased charge replaces the current Fire Services Property Levy.

Mr Marshall, the secretary of the United Firefighters Union, warned the Greens would face dire consequences at next year’s state election for the “dirty deal”.

In a blistering letter to Victorian Greens leader, Ellen Sandell, Mr Marshall said an endorsement of the tax was an endorsement of the total demolition of the state’s fire service.

“There will no doubt be consequences for the Victorian Greens at the 2026 State Election, for acting as the artificial lung of a dying Labor Government,” he said.

Peter Marshall waged war on the Victorian Greens for pushing through the fire services levy. Picture: Ian Currie

“It is a blatant lie, a gross perversion and, put simply, misleading, to dress this tax bill up as something that supports Victorian volunteers and emergency service workers.

“Much of the crossbench have opposed this tax bill (and for good reason) however the Greens - and, it appears, Legalise Cannabis and the Animal Justice Party - have put their own

interests ahead of the safety of Firefighter and public safety.

“This is unforgivable and will follow you into the next State Election.”

Mr Marshall said moves to raise taxes came at the same time the government was locked in a fierce battle over a new wages deal with firefighters and while almost half of the state’s fire trucks were no longer fit for purpose.

“The Allan Labor Government, with the endorsement of the Victorian Greens, will tax Victorians under the guise of ‘supporting’ emergency services – yet at the same time gut the fire service,” he said.

“The consequences of these actions will only lead to frightening community safety outcomes - loss of life and unnecessary damage to property.

“Your actions will define your party and what it stands for. Firefighters’ support for the Victorian Greens ends as of today.”

In a statement on Thursday morning, the Greens claimed that they had secured a range of amendments, including that all funds raised would go directly to the frontline, rather than to administrative work.

The move to raise taxes comes at a time where almost half of the state’s fire trucks were no longer fit for purpose. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

“Instead of the new levy providing no more than 87.5% of FRV annual funding, it will now be required to provide no less than 90% of FRV annual funding and no less than 95% of funding for the CFA and SES,” the statement read.

Among other changes was a guaranteed $10 million every year for a rolling fleet replacement program for out-of-date fire trucks for Fire Rescue Victoria.

Farmers who are experiencing hardship due to drought will also be exempt from the tax, and primary producers will be able to access a reduced levy rate for land used for primary production. However, it was unclear whether farmers accessing exemptions would need to pay the levy and then apply for a rebate.

The Greens also said they had secured an additional $15 million for support for farmers to cut their energy bills.

Greens Leader Ellen Sandell said the minor party was backing the tax because there needed to be greater funding for emergency services due to climate change.

“Labor’s original levy had some serious problems, so the Greens pushed for significant changes,” she said.

Marshall has warned of the dire consequences and “frightening community safety outcomes”. Picture: Supplied

“These changes mean farmers experiencing hardship from drought will be exempt from the increased levy, firefighters will have proper secure and ongoing funding including to replace their ageing trucks, and amendments will ensure every dollar goes to emergency services and can’t be spent to plug government budget holes.”

Treasurer Jaclyn Symes would not say if she was confident that the levy would pass but thanked members of the crossbench who expressed their concerns and suggested changes to the legislation.

“Hopefully those conversations have been productive to produce a result that the legislation will pass,” she said.

“But I won’t pre-empt the voting intentions of the Members of parliament.”

Parliament is expected to sit late tonight to allow the legislation to pass the upper house with amendments before returning to the lower house

Originally published as ‘Dirty deal’: Union boss lashes out over Greens-Labor fire levy pact