By Jaidyn Kennedy
A long-time Werribee CFA member is taking a personal stand against the state government’s controversial Emergency Services Volunteer Fund (ESVF) levy.
Lieutenant Rohan Rizzoli, who has volunteered at Werribee CFA for 14 years, said the new levy will hurt farmers, many of whom are firefighters across the state, when it comes into effect on July 1.
He was one of the thousands of CFA members who protested at the steps of parliament on Tuesday, May 20, the day the state budget was announced.
“I chose to attend to be a voice for them, a voice for the Wyndham community and a voice for CFA volunteers across the state, many of whom are farmers themselves,” Mr Rizzoli said.
“We have already lost so many quality volunteers across the state with decades of service and experience, we cannot afford to lose more.”
While Mr Rizzoli said that while his stand is his own opinion and not his unit’s, he is fighting against the implication his colleagues spearheaded the levy.
“The worst part of this tax is that Jacinta Allan is using the good name of firefighters, emergency service workers and community volunteers to sell it to the public,” he said.
Before attending the rally, Mr Rizzoli visited several family members and farmers in rural Victoria, who he believes will be hit hardest due to the size of their properties.
“They’ve had to sell their cattle, their dams are empty, the hay shed is empty and there is no feed in the paddocks– it is costing them hundreds of dollars per day to feed sheep,” he said.
“I think those of us living in metropolitan Melbourne don’t fully understand the impacts these government decisions have on our rural communities.
“You cannot truly understand what they’re going through without seeing it first-hand. It is absolutely shocking.”
Passed in state parliament in the early hours of May 16, the ESVF will replace the former Fire Services Property Levy.
The ESVF will be calculated on a fixed charge that varies by property type, and a variable charge based on property value and will be charged alongside council rates.
The state government was contacted for comment.
