Property Council Tasmania speaks out against government plans to reform fire service funding

Proposed reforms to the way the state’s fire and emergency services are funded, which the government says is due to inequities in the existing system, have been torched by a new voice.

Labor Leader Rebecca White and Property Council Tasmania president Heather Mason speak to the media in Hobart on Monday, October 30, 2023.

Proposed reforms to the way the state’s fire and emergency services are funded have run into opposition from the property lobby.

The state government has proposed changes to the way the state’s fire and emergency services are structured and paid for – including changes to the levy currently collected by local councils.

But it faces a difficult task getting its proposed reforms through the lower house due to opposition from key independent John Tucker, who has dubbed the alternative proposals a “fire tax”.

Property Council Tasmania president Heather Mason said her members were deeply concerned about the potential for increased costs under both of the proposed options the government is currently pursuing.

“We’re seeing proposed increases for households upwards of 300 per cent and for businesses potential increases of 800 per cent and then for those that have got real property in the farming industry over 1000 per cent,” she said.

“Commercial landlords can of course, pass this as a cost down to their tenants.

“We’re in the midst of a cost of living crisis and we can certainly expect to see some huge increases for households as well.”

Labor Leader Rebecca White called on the government to rethink its plans.

“The Liberals’ plan for a new fire tax has been roundly condemned by all stakeholders, from households, farmers and local councils to firefighters and business leaders,” she said.

“The Property Council has said the fire tax is out of touch, unfair and will hit rural and regional Tasmania the hardest.

Minister for Police and Emergency Service Felix Ellis speaks to the media at Parliament Square in Hobart on Monday, October 16, 2023.

“While Minister [Felix] Ellis might claim that larger businesses can afford it, everyone knows these costs will be passed on to small business tenants through higher rents.”

Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services Felix Ellis said the need for reforms to funding arrangements was beyond dispute.

“We will work with all members of the Tasmanian parliament around this legislation,” he said.

“It’s critical for the future of our state; it will double the fuel reduction burning program in rural areas, it will make sure that our volunteers have what they need, not only to protect our communities, but also stay safe themselves as they do so.

“We’ve heard time and again, from right across the political spectrum, that we absolutely need reform in this space, because we need to protect lives in Tasmania for a challenging future.”