Traffic chaos in Melbourne, firey and farmer protest causing major delays across city including West Gate freeway

Fireys and farmers are uniting to protest, causing traffic chaos in Melbourne, clogging up the West Gate freeway and causing major delays across the city.

Dozens of rural fire trucks have lined the steps of Victoria’s parliament as rural firefighters and farmers protested the Allan government’s new emergency services tax.

The protest, which hit parliament about 11am on Friday, brought together fireys, farmers and local council members who are all opposed to the incoming Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund.

The levy is projected to rake in an extra $2bn from land holders when it replaces the current Fire Services Levy.

The Victorian Farmers Federation have previously rallied against the levy saying it would hit regional property owners hard with some reporting cost increases of 400 per cent.

Many farmers are also volunteer firefighters.

Farmers and CFA members gather in front of the Victorian Parliament. Picture: David Crosling

The protesters were taking aim at the new emergency services tax. Picture: David Crosling

The levy is projected to rake in an extra $2bn from land holders David Crosling

Opposition leader Brad Battin at the protest. Picture: David Crosling

Councils, which collect the Fire Services Levy for the state government through rate notices, have also spoken out against the tax warning the new levy will be “more complicated” to administer and backlash from local residents will be “massive”.

Municipal Association of Victoria President Jennifer Anderson is on record stating that councils across the state had indicated they were “not able to reliably implement these proposed changes”.

Nationals Leader Danny O’Brien said he wanted the “whole proposal scrapped”.

“There’s no messing around, this the government should axe the tax.

“It’s all about the government trying to raise revenue because labour can’t manage money and Victorians are paying for that.”

Farmers to fire up over levy

Volunteer firefighters and farmers were on Thursday preparing to descend on Spring Street in a bid to ­extinguish the “unjust” new emergency services tax, while presenting the Allan government with a mock-up bill of more than $1m for the catastrophic Grampians blaze.

Some volunteers are refusing to attend call-outs and have threatened to quit altogether over the new Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund after it was revealed farmers – many of whom are CFA volunteers themselves – could be hardest hit.

In the lead-up to the return of parliament next week, senior volunteer firefighters have sent out a call to action, ­encouraging fuming farmers and firefighters to join a demonstration at Spring Street on Friday morning.

UFU Secretary Peter Marshall said the rally, which would be attended by scores of farmers, council advocates and firefighters, had been organised to draw attention to the to the fact that the levy also changed the funding arrangements for FRV.

“Under these changes, the levy will be doubled, but the legally binding funding standards for fire protection will be abolished,” he said.

“What exactly will Victorians be paying for? Without mandatory, enforceable standards, firefighters can’t guarantee they’ll be able to safely respond to the emergencies where they are needed...others including local councils and farmers are also speaking out in opposition to this blatant cash grab and we welcome their solidarity.”

Victorian firefighters union boss Peter Marshall. Picture: Ian Currie

The Allan government was forced to temporarily shelve the legislation in April. Picture: Supplied

The protest comes ahead of parliament resuming next week.

The Herald Sun understands the controversial levy may be put back to a vote in next week despite it being broadly opposed.

In April, the Allan government was forced to temporarily shelve the legislation to make way for the new tax after it could not garner enough support from the crossbench in the upper house.

If the bill is not voted on next week it leaves the government with the prospect that Treasurer Jaclyn Symes faces a massive black hole in her first budget, which will be handed down on May 20.

Sources said the four upper house Greens MPs — who the government often looks to for support to pass legislation — had been asked by their federal counterparts to not support the Bill while the campaign was on.

Given the federal party has been decimated it is currently not clear if the Victorian Greens will support the controversial legislation.

Jacinta Allan says the levy will help rural communities. Picture: Kerang Fire Brigade

The Premier said though the bill was still up in the air, its passing would be the best outcome to support the State Emergency Service in the face of worsening climate conditions.

“The bill is currently before the Legislative Council and there are discussions between Legislative Council members of Parliament on the passage of that bill, and other legislation that sits before the Parliament,” she said.

“We’ve introduced this change because we want to increase support, increased support for our emergency services, to bring funding to the State Emergency Services for the first time in a similar way to our fire services.

“This is in recognition of the fact we are seeing more frequent, more fierce fire, flood and windstorm damage in all parts of our state and all parts of emergency services deserve our support when they go out and respond in these really difficult dangerous conditions.”

The Premier also said the levy would help support farmers, even in the face of their protests.

“I know from speaking to farmers, to living in a rural area (myself) I understand those challenges,” she said.

“Part of responding and supporting our rural communities and regional communities and keeping our community safe is strengthening and investing in our fire and emergency services.

“We will continue to support the farmers and farm producers, to support their health and wellbeing, to support investment in their farms and support access to growing export opportunities.”

Originally published as Traffic chaos in Melbourne, firey and farmer protest causing major delays across city including West Gate freeway