Tuesday, 20 May 2025

Members statements

Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund

Brad BATTIN (Berwick – Leader of the Opposition) (14:13): Today I stood on the steps of Parliament with so many CFA volunteers, with farmers and with mums and dads who are concerned about the great big tax that the Victorian Labor Party are imposing on every single Victorian. They came in here today because they know that this government has mistreated them and disrespected them for far too long. They are hanging up their uniforms, they are parking the trucks and they are finally calling out this Labor government for what they have done. They continue to expect them to turn out as volunteers to protect our state. They want them to get out of bed at midnight to go to the car accidents on the freeways. They expect them when the bushfires are in state forests to get out of bed, to bring along everybody from their community, for weeks on end to protect our state. And what do they get? They get a great big new tax.

Only a Victorian Liberal–Nationals government would repeal this tax and ensure each and every Victorian gets their fair share. We cannot continue with a government who disrespects volunteers. We cannot continue with a government that puts taxes on every single business in this state and expects them to come out and support our community. It is simply too much. This is a $2.1 billion tax grab by this government on the very farmers who are suffering under drought at the moment, with drought conditions. The mental health impact on our state is going to be horrendous through those farmers. You must repeal this tax.