Grassroots alliance targets Allan Government with election how-to-vote cards
The Across Victoria Alliance threatens to target key seats with how-to-vote cards unless the Allan Government scraps its controversial fire services levy entirely.
A grassroots movement opposed to the Allan government’s fire services levy is planning to distribute how-to-vote cards on state election day next year.
Established in response to the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund, the Across Victoria Alliance has staged several rallies in 2025 and is planning further demonstrations in the new year, with the moratorium on the levy set to end in July 2026.
AVA co-ordinator Andrew Weidemann said the movement was planning a state conference in February as well as rallies to keep pressure on the Allan government to scupper its levy rises entirely.
“We’re not backing off — in fact, we’re only in the first quarter and we want to engage more with Melbourne voters,” he said.
“Regional Victoria was ahead of the curve in pushing back against government overreach and I think Melbourne is now starting to wake up.
“We’re evaluating all of the parties. We’ve been talking to the Nationals, the Liberals, One Nation as well.
“We’re planning to allocate how-to-vote cards in key seats, but that is in its early stages. The moratorium fizzles out in June, start of July – we’re saying it needs to go altogether.”
Kew Liberal MP Jess Wilson was appointed Opposition leader last week, replacing Berwick MP Brad Battin, who spent less than a year in the top Coalition role.
A fresh Newspoll revealed Ms Wilson’s ascension has put the Coalition in an election-winning lead, on 51 per cent of the two-party preferred vote against Labor.
Mr Weidemann said he was keen to meet with the new opposition leader to discuss Coalition policy, not only on the fire services levy, but other regional hot-button issues.
“There’s been a change at the top but there appears to still be the commitment from the Coalition to axe the levy entirely. We’d welcome a similar pledge from Jacinta Allan and the Labor government, but looks unlikely to happen.”
