Wednesday, 29 July 2026

 Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (12:03): (1382) My question is to the Treasurer. The latest Labor Premier Mr Carroll has changed the government’s position on a royal commission into Labor’s Big Build corruption. Is it still the government’s position under the Carroll–Williams government to support the Allan–Carroll government’s emergency services levy, which is a massive impost on families, regional communities and every small business across the state?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Development Victoria and Precincts) (12:03): Mr Mulholland, there are no changes to the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund that I can discuss with the chamber today.

 Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (12:03): My supplementary question to the Treasurer is: under Labor’s increased emergency services volunteer tax, Victoria now collects $221 per resident a year – $43 above the national average of $177 per person and the highest in Australia. How can you continue to justify this massive tax grab while starving the SES, CFA and FRV of trucks and investment that are needed to keep our community safe?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Development Victoria and Precincts) (12:04): Mr Mulholland, it probably would have been a greater opportunity to be –

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: Order! Can we reset the clock in case the Treasurer wants to use her minute? The Treasurer, without interjections, please.

Jaclyn SYMES: Your question was, I think, trying to combine ESVF totals that the government collects, then I think you were trying to combine that with other taxes. I think that is what your question was, because you referred to a figure of $221. It was very unclear from your question, but at the end of the day what you have demonstrated is that –

Georgie Crozier interjected.

Jaclyn SYMES: Actually, no, it is not. New South Wales collects more taxes than Victoria.

Georgie Crozier: No, we are the highest taxed state in the country.

Jaclyn SYMES: That is just not true. But in relation to the question that Mr Mulholland has asked in relation to the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund, we proudly support our emergency services. We invest in them.

Bev McArthur interjected.

Jaclyn SYMES: I will take that up. $66 million was cut from the CFA when you were last in government.

David Davis interjected.

Jaclyn SYMES: It is not a lie, Mr Davis.

Members interjecting.

Sonja Terpstra: On a point of order, President, I ask that Mr Davis withdraw that unparliamentary remark. He was warned about the use of that term yesterday, and he should withdraw.

The PRESIDENT: Yes, I uphold Ms Terpstra’s point of order and warn members about calling individual MPs liars. I think it was more directed at a government policy or an alternate policy; that is my understanding.