Should Victoria keep the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund, the property levy that replaced the fire services levy in 2025?
Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy
Both houses · 6 votes
Background
From 1 July 2025 the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy replaced the fire services property levy; property owners pay it with their council rates. It also funds the State Emergency Service (SES), Triple Zero Victoria, emergency management and Forest Fire Management Victoria, and Country Fire Authority (CFA) and SES volunteers can claim a rebate. The Treasurer sets the rates: in 2025-26 the variable rate roughly doubled for homes and businesses (the fixed charge for homes rose from $132 to $136), while a proposed farmland rate of 83 cents per $1,000 was put on hold in response to drought, leaving farmland at 28.7 cents in 2025-26 and 2026-27. Council amendments negotiated with the Greens cap the money raised at the funding of the listed services, and a June 2026 law deferred a rise in the fixed charge for homes that are not the owner's main residence and expanded the volunteer rebate.
What each side said
Summarised from the debate in Parliament, with sources below.
For “agree”
Supporters said a growing number of fires, floods and storms needs a "sustainable model for the long-term funding of emergency services" (Danny Pearson, ALP, second reading, 6 Mar 2025), with a $250 million package for CFA and SES volunteers. The Greens abstained in the Assembly to consult farmers, councils and volunteers, then supported it in the Council after negotiating that "every dollar from the levy will now go directly to strengthening emergency services" (Sarah Mansfield, 15 May 2025). Legalise Cannabis and Animal Justice also voted on this side.
For “disagree”
Opponents said it is a large new charge on every property that would also fund government agencies previously paid from general revenue — "this great big new tax is also going to fund core government services" (James Newbury, Liberal, 20 Mar 2025, on the bill as introduced) — and that it hits farmers, households and businesses during a cost-of-living squeeze. The Coalition said in the Council it would get rid of the levy (David Davis, Liberal); the Libertarians, Shooters, One Nation and Moira Deeming (now Family First) also opposed it.
How the parties voted
Across the linked votes below. Second and third readings count five times as much as other votes. Parties are in alphabetical order. How this is worked out
| Party | Record | Votes with a party position |
|---|---|---|
| Animal Justice | Consistently for | 3 of 3 |
| Greens | Consistently for | 3 of 6 |
| Labor | Consistently for | 6 of 6 |
| Legalise Cannabis | Consistently for | 3 of 3 |
| Liberal | Consistently against | 6 of 6 |
| Libertarian | Consistently against | 3 of 3 |
| Nationals | Consistently against | 6 of 6 |
| One Nation | Consistently against | 3 of 3 |
| Shooters, Fishers and Farmers | Consistently against | 3 of 3 |
The votes behind this question
Each vote (division) recorded in Parliament that this question is based on, in date order.
20 March 2025 · Legislative Assembly
Fire Services Property Amendment (Emergency Services And Volunteers Fund) Bill 2025
- Question put
- Question — That the words proposed to be omitted stand part of the question — put.
- Result
- Question agreed to. Ayes 50, Noes 25.
- Matches “agree”
- An Aye vote
- Weight
- Normal
- Why it's linked
- Assembly reasoned amendment moved by James Newbury; the question was whether to keep the words "be now read a second time". Aye = reject the amendment (let the bill proceed); agree = Aye.
| Party | Aye | No | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greens | 0 | 0 | Did not vote |
| Labor | 50 | 0 | Aye |
| Liberal | 0 | 18 | No |
| Nationals | 0 | 7 | No |
Every name (Ayes 50, Noes 25) in the vote of 20 March 2025
Ayes (50)
Juliana Addison, Jacinta Allan, Colin Brooks, Josh Bull, Anthony Carbines, Ben Carroll, Anthony Cianflone, Sarah Connolly, Chris Couzens, Jordan Crugnale, Lily D'Ambrosio, Daniela De Martino, Steve Dimopoulos, Paul Edbrooke, Eden Foster, Matt Fregon, Ella George, Luba Grigorovitch, Bronwyn Halfpenny, Katie Hall, Paul Hamer, Martha Haylett, Mathew Hilakari, Melissa Horne, Sonya Kilkenny, Nathan Lambert, John Lister, Gary Maas, Alison Marchant, Kathleen Matthews-Ward, Steve McGhie, Paul Mercurio, John Mullahy, Danny Pearson, Pauline Richards, Tim Richardson, Michaela Settle, Ros Spence, Nick Staikos, Natalie Suleyman, Meng Heang Tak, Jackson Taylor, Nina Taylor, Kat Theophanous, Mary-Anne Thomas, Iwan Walters, Vicki Ward, Dylan Wight, Gabrielle Williams, Belinda Wilson
Noes (25)
Brad Battin, Jade Benham, Roma Britnell, Tim Bull, Martin Cameron, Annabelle Cleeland, Chris Crewther, Wayne Farnham, Sam Groth, Matthew Guy, David Hodgett, Cindy McLeish, James Newbury, Danny O'Brien, Michael O'Brien, Kim O'Keeffe, John Pesutto, Richard Riordan, Brad Rowswell, David Southwick, Bridget Vallence, Peter Walsh, Kim Wells, Rachel Westaway, Jess Wilson
Official record: Votes and Proceedings Nos 115 to 117 (LA-60-117-01)
20 March 2025 · Legislative Assembly
Fire Services Property Amendment (Emergency Services And Volunteers Fund) Bill 2025
- Question put
- Question — That this Bill be now read a second time — put.
- Result
- Question agreed to. Ayes 50, Noes 25.
- Matches “agree”
- An Aye vote
- Weight
- Strong: a second or third reading, counted five times
- Why it's linked
- Second reading (Assembly). Aye = support the bill; agree = Aye.
| Party | Aye | No | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greens | 0 | 0 | Did not vote |
| Labor | 50 | 0 | Aye |
| Liberal | 0 | 18 | No |
| Nationals | 0 | 7 | No |
Every name (Ayes 50, Noes 25) in the vote of 20 March 2025
Ayes (50)
Juliana Addison, Jacinta Allan, Colin Brooks, Josh Bull, Anthony Carbines, Ben Carroll, Anthony Cianflone, Sarah Connolly, Chris Couzens, Jordan Crugnale, Lily D'Ambrosio, Daniela De Martino, Steve Dimopoulos, Paul Edbrooke, Eden Foster, Matt Fregon, Ella George, Luba Grigorovitch, Bronwyn Halfpenny, Katie Hall, Paul Hamer, Martha Haylett, Mathew Hilakari, Melissa Horne, Sonya Kilkenny, Nathan Lambert, John Lister, Gary Maas, Alison Marchant, Kathleen Matthews-Ward, Steve McGhie, Paul Mercurio, John Mullahy, Danny Pearson, Pauline Richards, Tim Richardson, Michaela Settle, Ros Spence, Nick Staikos, Natalie Suleyman, Meng Heang Tak, Jackson Taylor, Nina Taylor, Kat Theophanous, Mary-Anne Thomas, Iwan Walters, Vicki Ward, Dylan Wight, Gabrielle Williams, Belinda Wilson
Noes (25)
Brad Battin, Jade Benham, Roma Britnell, Tim Bull, Martin Cameron, Annabelle Cleeland, Chris Crewther, Wayne Farnham, Sam Groth, Matthew Guy, David Hodgett, Cindy McLeish, James Newbury, Danny O'Brien, Michael O'Brien, Kim O'Keeffe, John Pesutto, Richard Riordan, Brad Rowswell, David Southwick, Bridget Vallence, Peter Walsh, Kim Wells, Rachel Westaway, Jess Wilson
Official record: Votes and Proceedings Nos 115 to 117 (LA-60-117-02)
20 March 2025 · Legislative Assembly
Fire Services Property Amendment (Emergency Services And Volunteers Fund) Bill 2025
- Question put
- Question — That this Bill be now read a third time — put.
- Result
- Question agreed to. Ayes 50, Noes 25.
- Matches “agree”
- An Aye vote
- Weight
- Strong: a second or third reading, counted five times
- Why it's linked
- Third reading (Assembly). Aye = support the bill; agree = Aye.
| Party | Aye | No | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greens | 0 | 0 | Did not vote |
| Labor | 50 | 0 | Aye |
| Liberal | 0 | 18 | No |
| Nationals | 0 | 7 | No |
Every name (Ayes 50, Noes 25) in the vote of 20 March 2025
Ayes (50)
Juliana Addison, Jacinta Allan, Colin Brooks, Josh Bull, Anthony Carbines, Ben Carroll, Anthony Cianflone, Sarah Connolly, Chris Couzens, Jordan Crugnale, Lily D'Ambrosio, Daniela De Martino, Steve Dimopoulos, Paul Edbrooke, Eden Foster, Matt Fregon, Ella George, Luba Grigorovitch, Bronwyn Halfpenny, Katie Hall, Paul Hamer, Martha Haylett, Mathew Hilakari, Melissa Horne, Sonya Kilkenny, Nathan Lambert, John Lister, Gary Maas, Alison Marchant, Kathleen Matthews-Ward, Steve McGhie, Paul Mercurio, John Mullahy, Danny Pearson, Pauline Richards, Tim Richardson, Michaela Settle, Ros Spence, Nick Staikos, Natalie Suleyman, Meng Heang Tak, Jackson Taylor, Nina Taylor, Kat Theophanous, Mary-Anne Thomas, Iwan Walters, Vicki Ward, Dylan Wight, Gabrielle Williams, Belinda Wilson
Noes (25)
Brad Battin, Jade Benham, Roma Britnell, Tim Bull, Martin Cameron, Annabelle Cleeland, Chris Crewther, Wayne Farnham, Sam Groth, Matthew Guy, David Hodgett, Cindy McLeish, James Newbury, Danny O'Brien, Michael O'Brien, Kim O'Keeffe, John Pesutto, Richard Riordan, Brad Rowswell, David Southwick, Bridget Vallence, Peter Walsh, Kim Wells, Rachel Westaway, Jess Wilson
Official record: Votes and Proceedings Nos 115 to 117 (LA-60-117-03)
15 May 2025 · Legislative Council
Fire Services Property Amendment (Emergency Services And Volunteers Fund) Bill 2025
- Question put
- 7 FIRE SERVICES PROPERTY AMENDMENT (EMERGENCY SERVICES AND VOLUNTEERS FUND) BILL 2025 — Debate continued on the question, That the Bill be now read a second time.
- Result
- Question agreed to. Ayes 22, Noes 18.
- Matches “agree”
- An Aye vote
- Weight
- Strong: a second or third reading, counted five times
- Why it's linked
- Second reading (Council). Aye = support the bill; agree = Aye.
| Party | Aye | No | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Justice | 1 | 0 | Aye |
| Greens | 4 | 0 | Aye |
| Labor | 15 | 0 | Aye |
| Legalise Cannabis | 2 | 0 | Aye |
| Liberal | 0 | 12 | No |
| Libertarian | 0 | 1 | No |
| Nationals | 0 | 2 | No |
| One Nation | 0 | 1 | No |
| Shooters, Fishers and Farmers | 0 | 1 | No |
Independents, each counted on their own: Adem Somyurek (No)
Every name (Ayes 22, Noes 18) in the vote of 15 May 2025
Ayes (22)
Ryan Batchelor, John Berger, Lizzie Blandthorn, Katherine Copsey, Enver Erdogan, Jacinta Ermacora, David Ettershank, Michael Galea, Anasina Gray-Barberio, Shaun Leane, Sarah Mansfield, Tom McIntosh, Rachel Payne, Aiv Puglielli, Georgie Purcell, Harriet Shing, Ingrid Stitt, Jaclyn Symes, Lee Tarlamis, Sonja Terpstra, Gayle Tierney, Sheena Watt
Noes (18)
Melina Bath, Jeff Bourman, Gaelle Broad, Georgie Crozier, David Davis, Moira Deeming, Renee Heath, Ann-Marie Hermans, David Limbrick, Wendy Lovell, Trung Luu, Bev McArthur, Joe McCracken, Nick McGowan, Evan Mulholland, Adem Somyurek, Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell, Richard Welch
Official record: Minutes of the Proceedings Nos. 113, 114 and 115 (LC-60-115-01)
15 May 2025 · Legislative Council
Fire Services Property Amendment (Emergency Services And Volunteers Fund) Bill 2025
- Question put
- Question — That the Bill be now read a third time — put.
- Result
- Question agreed to. Ayes 22, Noes 17.
- Matches “agree”
- An Aye vote
- Weight
- Strong: a second or third reading, counted five times
- Why it's linked
- Third reading (Council). Aye = support the bill; agree = Aye.
| Party | Aye | No | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Justice | 1 | 0 | Aye |
| Greens | 4 | 0 | Aye |
| Labor | 15 | 0 | Aye |
| Legalise Cannabis | 2 | 0 | Aye |
| Liberal | 0 | 12 | No |
| Libertarian | 0 | 1 | No |
| Nationals | 0 | 2 | No |
| One Nation | 0 | 1 | No |
| Shooters, Fishers and Farmers | 0 | 1 | No |
Every name (Ayes 22, Noes 17) in the vote of 15 May 2025
Ayes (22)
Ryan Batchelor, John Berger, Lizzie Blandthorn, Katherine Copsey, Enver Erdogan, Jacinta Ermacora, David Ettershank, Michael Galea, Anasina Gray-Barberio, Shaun Leane, Sarah Mansfield, Tom McIntosh, Rachel Payne, Aiv Puglielli, Georgie Purcell, Harriet Shing, Ingrid Stitt, Jaclyn Symes, Lee Tarlamis, Sonja Terpstra, Gayle Tierney, Sheena Watt
Noes (17)
Melina Bath, Jeff Bourman, Gaelle Broad, Georgie Crozier, David Davis, Moira Deeming, Renee Heath, Ann-Marie Hermans, David Limbrick, Wendy Lovell, Trung Luu, Bev McArthur, Joe McCracken, Nick McGowan, Evan Mulholland, Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell, Richard Welch
Official record: Minutes of the Proceedings Nos. 113, 114 and 115 (LC-60-115-03)
10 September 2025 · Legislative Council
Emergency Services Tax
- Question put
- 10 EMERGENCY SERVICES TAX — Debate continued on the question, That this House —
- Result
- Question negatived. Ayes 17, Noes 22.
- Matches “agree”
- A No vote
- Weight
- Normal
- Why it's linked
- Council motion. Aye = support the motion; agree = No.
| Party | Aye | No | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Justice | 0 | 1 | No |
| Greens | 0 | 4 | No |
| Labor | 0 | 15 | No |
| Legalise Cannabis | 0 | 2 | No |
| Liberal | 12 | 0 | Aye |
| Libertarian | 1 | 0 | Aye |
| Nationals | 2 | 0 | Aye |
| One Nation | 1 | 0 | Aye |
| Shooters, Fishers and Farmers | 1 | 0 | Aye |
Every name (Ayes 17, Noes 22) in the vote of 10 September 2025
Ayes (17)
Melina Bath, Jeff Bourman, Gaelle Broad, Georgie Crozier, David Davis, Moira Deeming, Renee Heath, Ann-Marie Hermans, David Limbrick, Wendy Lovell, Trung Luu, Bev McArthur, Joe McCracken, Nick McGowan, Evan Mulholland, Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell, Richard Welch
Noes (22)
Ryan Batchelor, John Berger, Lizzie Blandthorn, Katherine Copsey, Enver Erdogan, Jacinta Ermacora, David Ettershank, Michael Galea, Anasina Gray-Barberio, Shaun Leane, Sarah Mansfield, Tom McIntosh, Rachel Payne, Aiv Puglielli, Georgie Purcell, Harriet Shing, Ingrid Stitt, Jaclyn Symes, Lee Tarlamis, Sonja Terpstra, Gayle Tierney, Sheena Watt
Official record: Minutes of the Proceedings Nos. 131, 132 and 133 (LC-60-132-01)
Sources
- EM
- Second reading (Danny Pearson (Minister for Finance), 2025-03-06)
- Opposition (James Newbury (moved reasoned amendment), 2025-03-20)
- Crossbench (Ellen Sandell (Greens abstain in Assembly), The Australian Greens - Victoria)
- Crossbench (Sarah Mansfield (Greens support after negotiated changes), The Australian Greens - Victoria)
- News: ABC News (2025-05-16); Stock & Land (2025-05-16); The Courier (Ballarat) (2025-05-15)
- Full list: Sources tab (30 items).
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