Tuesday, 27 May 2025

Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund

Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (13:33): I was in Meredith with colleagues last night, where I met locals James and Kath. They sent this letter to Eureka MP Michaela Settle today:

Shame on you, Michaela.

Who is going to help us pay this absurd 150% fire services tax.

Are you going to foot the bill for my $10,000 feed bill so we can keep our cows alive through this drought?

Our bill to sow a perennial pasture in just 20 acres last year was 6K. And what little has grown this year with no rain has been decimated by the Kangaroos.

My wife has been active in the Maude CFA Brigade for over a decade, she has just been appointed Lieutenant, the first female to be appointed to this position … Countless hours of voluntary service, at the fire front throughout the night, training sessions during the weeknights, countless weekends of voluntary hours … in fundraisers, sausage sizzles, xmas community functions.

Take a look at yourself Michaela, what do you do for the community for free? You are going to cripple our regional communities … farmers will go bust, and many are going to take their own lives. Get out on farm for yourself and see how hard farmers work and struggle to survive from day to day. Even better, come to our farm and walk in our shoes for a day.