CFA volunteers walk off job as the Allan-government’s new emergency services levy passes parliament

Jacinta Allan is facing a regional revolt over her government’s new fire services tax, as the latest data shows Labor’s primary vote had fallen to a dismal 27 per cent in the regions.

Jacinta Allan is facing a regional revolt over her government’s new fire services tax as country firefighters walk off the job en masse amid warnings of a potentially catastrophic bushfire season.

Firefighters across the state have declared war on the government with up to 400 volunteer brigades on Friday downing tools in protest over the tax.

It has prompted veteran firefighters to warn Victoria could face grave consequences amid worsening drought conditions plaguing much of the regions.

A mass rally is also being planned to interrupt the release of the state budget on Tuesday.

The government’s new Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund passed parliament early on Friday morning following a marathon sitting, paving the way for an estimated $2bn generated by the tax to be included in next week’s budget. The levy will raise fees payable by farmers, many of whom are volunteer firefighters, by almost 200 per cent in some cases.

It could also spark fierce regional backlash against the government, which is already recording record low polling numbers in rural areas.

CFA members say they are quitting their brigades in protest of the looming hike in the fire services levy. Picture: Supplied

Latest data shows Labor’s primary vote had fallen to a dismal 27 per cent in the regions, with the Premier’s popularity plummeting in those areas.

Government sources said regional backbenchers had privately expressed frustration about the low number of visits to regional areas outside the Premier’s hometown of Bendigo they feared had contributed to a drop in support.

In this month’s federal election, Labor almost lost the seat of Bendigo to the Nationals, with the ALP suffering a rare swing against it.

Despite Ms Allan rejecting any responsibility for the swing, Labor insiders said her falling popularity could not be discounted as a contributing factor. It is now feared a regional revolt could significantly impact the party’s chances at next year’s state election.

Labor has historically relied on a regional strategy to keep a stranglehold on government, successfully blocking attempts by the Opposition to win seats in Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong. Insiders said the new fire tax would make this strategy infinitely more difficult.

CFA volunteers protesting earlier this month in front of parliament. Picture: David Crosling

Emergency Volunteer Awareness Campaign director Garth Head was a former principal adviser to the Bracks government for Police and Emergency Services.

He accused the Premier of seeking to make enemies of both volunteer and career firefighters as well as farmers and small business owners.

“This new tax, contrary to public political spin, is not hypothecated to the budgetary needs of operational volunteer or career emergency responders,” he said.

“Rather the new tax is to replace public service and administration costs usually funded from general revenue.

“So it’s really just a sneaky new tax sold on the backs of the reputation of our dedicated volunteer and career fire and emergency workers. And that’s the truth and shame of it.”

Another protest is being planned for Tuesday. Picture: David Crosling

United Firefighters Union boss, Peter Marshall, said a mass rally of farmers, fireys and CFA volunteers would descend on Parliament House at 10am Tuesday. “Professional firefighters, farmers and volunteers are horrified that the government is trying to use our good standing in the community as body armour for their cynical cash grab,” he said.

Premier Jacinta Allan, however, said she was “supporting” the emergency services, had been “listening” to farmers and that last-minute changes had been made to make the levy more palatable. They include exemptions for emergency service volunteers and farmers hit hardest by drought conditions.

“Our emergency services workers and volunteers keep us safe in some of the most difficult and extreme weather events, fires, floods and storms that are only happening more frequently,” she said.

It comes as the CFA research and community preparedness deputy chief officer Alen Slijepcevic warned about what is expected to be the most severe bushfire season since the 2019-2020 Black Summer.

Footage obtained by the Herald Sun on Thursday night showed CFA brigades announcing they were taking themselves offline.

In one video shared to social media, a firefighter is heard asking over what appears to be an internal communication system whether he could pass on a message to the Allan government.

“(Tell) Jacinta Allan to come out here and we’ll tell her to get f*****,” he said.

Head of the Westmere Group, Pat Millear, said all 18 associated brigades located in Victoria’s fire-prone west, would be offline indefinitely due to the levy.

Mr Millear said after years of dwindling support for the CFA, the new tax was “the final straw”.

“The state government isn’t losing regional Victorians – they’ve lost them,” he said.

Originally published as CFA volunteers walk off job as the Allan-government’s new emergency services levy passes parliament