General News
23 May, 2025
Warracknabeal CFA in for the long haul
Warracknabeal CFA members are in this fight against the government's Emergency Service Volunteers Levy until fairness across Victoria has been restored.
Twelve of the thirteen Warracknabeal units have now gone offline as of the CFA meeting on Tuesday night, May 20.
This decision followed the rally held on the steps of Parliament House earlier that day when thousands of Victorians headed for Melbourne in trucks, cars, utes, fire trucks, trains and buses to show solidarity against the new tax, which will see every household in the state bear the brunt of the government's decision.
However, it is the rural community that will be hit the hardest with the levy adding an already stretched economy to, and, past the limit in many households.
"Two of our units went to the rally, and many went down in cars, and the feeling there was one of solidarity," Warracknabeal Group Captain David Drage said.
"The twelve brigades are offline until the levy is off the table, we are in this for the long haul, and for all Victorians," he said.
"This levy will not just affect farmers and CFA volunteers, but every household in the state, families, and individuals will feel the brunt of this unfair tax," he said.
"CFA volunteers are not people to decide this lightly, but they feel the protest is the only option since the government will not listen to reason."
Mr Drage said public safety remains the priority of all CFA members, and the public can be assured that in an emergency, they should ring Triple Zero and the CFA will attend.
"Our one brigade is still on line and will be staffed; personnel will attend; we will not leave our community without protection.
"It will be a stretch for those still online, but we'll make it work," he said.
"All personnel will still be notified after a triple-zero call."
Mr Drage said, landowners are facing drought, mining, transmission lines, solar farms, and they feel as if they are under attack from many areas, and now with a 150-169 percent hike in this levy shows the disconnect between city and rural, and the people [government] making the decisons.
While the plight of farmers and CFA members has been highlighted in recent weeks, Mr Drage said he wanted the public to know that ordinary Australians were represented at the rally on Tuesday in large numbers.
"Households are facing at least a 25 percent increase in their levy payment," he said. "And this is on top of an already cost-of-living crisis."
"Businesses will suffer, and so their costs will be passed on with job losses."
Mr Drage said the numbers that gathered in Melbourne on Tuesday showed the level of commitment from ordinary Victorians against what he called an unpopular tax.
"This action, by the CFA, will continue until the government repeals the decision, until the new ESVL is reversed, and there will be no concession to that," Mr Drage said.
"We are in it for the long haul."
