Published on 10 June 2025
Welcome to winter and I encourage everyone to make a rain dance and keep our farmers close to our thoughts and actions.
The proposed Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (Levy) has ignited passions throughout rural Victoria as started by the valiant demonstrations in Melbourne at Parliament House. I applaud all those who made the huge effort to travel long distances and leave their homes farms jobs and places of business.
Three weeks ago, our Shire attended a Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) conference and amongst other things voted for a motion to be put to the State Government outlining our concerns. We were represented by our Mayor Cr Grace La Vella, Tullaroop Ward Councillor Anna de Villiers and myself – and the motion was unanimous. Since that time, I have attended numerous other meetings and commenced a legal assessment of the Levy. The Shire has also retained a lawyer via the MAV to analyse payment protocols.
I am also most thankful to Member for Ripon Martha Haylett for her protests about the unfairness of the Levy which was reported in the media including the Herald Sun.
Clearly, things have changed somewhat in the last week as the State Government has indicated that farmers will have a reprieve for a period of 12 months.
I am also mindful that farmers are not the only ones affected by the Levy and therefore further scrutiny and submissions will be made to the State Government – we must remember that many of our local businesses rely on farmers for the livelihood and I believe they too ought to receive a reprieve.
As a Council we will continue to advocate for the levy to be scrapped beyond the next year.
Deputy Mayor Councillor Ben Green
Paddys Ranges Ward