General News
3 June, 2025
Levy backflip welcome but hasn't gone far enough
While the farming community has welcomed the government's announcement that, due to worsening seasonal conditions, farmers will receive a reprieve from the new increased Emergency Services Volunteer Fund, many say it is not enough.
As part of the government's drought package announced earlier in May, premier Jacinta Allan announced on Friday, May 30, that 24 drought-impacted local government areas would pay a reduced ESVF, capped at the same amount they paid in 2024-25.
The premier said it would be extended to all primary production properties, ensuring all farmers could focus on their drought response and recovery.
This means the ESVF variable rate on primary production properties would remain at 28.7, the same as it was in the previous year.
It will stay at that rate for the 2025-26 financial year and will be automatically applied to the rates notices of primary producers.
VFF President Brett Hosking said in a press release after the announcememnt it represented a step in the right direction as Victoria endured crippling drought conditions across the state.
“Farmers are doing it tough and some are facing the worst drought conditions in living memory," he said in the statement.
“This announcement offers a glimmer of hope and is recognition that the pressure we’ve applied is being heard. It’s a step in the right direction, but plenty more remains to be done.”
Mr Hosking said that 12 month pause to the controversial ESVL was welcome and allowed more time to talk with the government.
“Pausing the ESVL increases for 12 months is the right call, but it doesn’t change the underlying problem: this levy is an unfair cost shift onto farmers.”
“We’ll use this extra time to continue making the case that it needs to be scrapped altogether, not simply paused."
President of the Wimmera Mallee Environmental and Agricultural Association, Ross Johns, said the rural community had been singled out with this ridiculously high levy but any help was welcome.
Mr Johns joined with the many thousands of Victorians who assembled on the steps of parliament on May 20 to oppose the ESVF and said the pressure must remain on the government until the levy was scrapped altogether and a more equitable model was created.
"It must be repealed," he said.
Horsham Rural City Council mayor, Ian Ross, welcomed the Victorian Government's decision to scrap the planned rate hike for farmers.
He welcomed the expanded $37.7 million drought support package to assist farmers facing worsening conditions across the state.
The additional support means farmers can access grants of up to $5000 to support on-farm drought management improvements, in addition to financial counseling and mental health support.
Due to the ongoing impact of drought on farmers in the south-west, the payments have been increased to $10,000 across 11 council areas and parts of the West Wimmera.
The program will also be expanded to cover water carting and pasture re-establishment across Victoria.
Agriculture Victoria's farm technical and decision-making support has also been made available statewide, supporting farmers to manage the impacts of these increasingly drier conditions.
The premier said that as part of the government's relief package, which inlcuded a dedicated task force, there would be further support delivered when and if it was needed.
The dedicated task force will be chaired by the premier and will be made up with the Minister for Regional Development Jaclyn Symes, Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence, Minister for Water Gayle Tierney, Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Victoria Michaela Settle, Nationals MP for Murray Plains Peter Walsh, President of the Victorian Farmers Federation Brett Hoskling, Regional Cities Victoria Chair, Cr Shane Sali, Rural Councils Victoria Deputy Chair, Cr Kate Makin, Dr Susan Brumby, National Centre for Farmers Health, CWA Victoria President, Jenny Nola, Stock Agent Representative, Heath Templeton - President of the Hamilton and District Stock Agents Association, NAB Exectutive for Regional and Agribusiness, Khan Horne and Robert Musgrove, General Manager, Corporate and Public Aggairs, Bendigo Bank.
