Tax reprieve for farmers as drought declared statewide
An extra $37.7 million has been earmarked for drought relief in Victoria as paddocks and dams run dry following low autumn rainfall.
A Victorian drought relief package, which includes $5000 grants, will be made available across the state after previously being limited to 24 local government areas.
Its expansion means all farmers will not pay the increased rate for the expanded emergency services levy in the 2025/26 financial year.
Their rate will remain at the same level as 2024/25 and automatically applied to notices for primary production properties.
The expansion of drought support was based on Bureau of Meteorology and Agriculture Victoria advice that the worse case for May rainfall had been realised, Premier Jacinta Allan said.
"All of Victoria is being now recognised as being affected by drought," she told reporters in Fiskville on Friday.
Thousands of farmers and firefighters protested against the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy outside Victorian parliament on May 20, the day of the state budget was handed down.
Under the original changes to the levy from July 1, the average annual bill was expected to rise $678 for primary producers and $63 for residential home owners.
Spooked by the backlash, the Allan government lowered the rate for farmers and introduced rebates for CFA and SES volunteers and life members.
The expanded levy was meant raise an extra $2.1 billion over the next three years to cover more emergency service agencies in the face of more frequent and intense natural disasters.
Treasurer Jaclyn Symes said the recent tweaks would leave the budget $73 million worse off but she remained confident of delivering an operating surplus of $600 million in 2025/26.
"It doesn't impact any of the commitments that we've made," she said.
The premier will also chair a drought task force that includes Ms Symes, Agriculture Minister Ros Spence and Nationals MP Peter Walsh, as well as farming, banking and local government representatives.
"We know there will be more work that we need to do," Ms Allan said.
Victorian Farmers Federation President Brett Hosking, who is on the task force, said the government had noticed backlash to the levy and decided to offer farmers a glimmer of hope.
"At a frozen level, we've placed our farmers in a position where they can get through the next 12 months," he said.
Wimmera farmer Andrew Weidemann and United Firefighters Union secretary Peter Marshall, who led the budget day protest, still want the expanded tax scrapped.
"The laws will remain on the books, and the tax will hang over the heads of every Victorian ... for every year to come," they said in a joint statement.
Victorian Nationals deputy Emma Kealy said the expanded levy on producers was "unjustified and unfair", regardless of whether they faced drought conditions or not.
"The latest drought package falls short when it comes to water and fodder requirements farmers have been calling for over several months," she said.
Farmers will be temporarily spared from paying a hiked emergency services levy as drought support is expanded statewide.
An extra $37.7 million has been earmarked for drought relief in Victoria as paddocks and dams run dry following low autumn rainfall.
A Victorian drought relief package, which includes $5000 grants, will be made available across the state after previously being limited to 24 local government areas.
Its expansion means all farmers will not pay the increased rate for the expanded emergency services levy in the 2025/26 financial year.
Their rate will remain at the same level as 2024/25 and automatically applied to notices for primary production properties.
The expansion of drought support was based on Bureau of Meteorology and Agriculture Victoria advice that the worse case for May rainfall had been realised, Premier Jacinta Allan said.
"All of Victoria is being now recognised as being affected by drought," she told reporters in Fiskville on Friday.
Thousands of farmers and firefighters protested against the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy outside Victorian parliament on May 20, the day of the state budget was handed down.
Under the original changes to the levy from July 1, the average annual bill was expected to rise $678 for primary producers and $63 for residential home owners.
Spooked by the backlash, the Allan government lowered the rate for farmers and introduced rebates for CFA and SES volunteers and life members.
The expanded levy was meant raise an extra $2.1 billion over the next three years to cover more emergency service agencies in the face of more frequent and intense natural disasters.
Treasurer Jaclyn Symes said the recent tweaks would leave the budget $73 million worse off but she remained confident of delivering an operating surplus of $600 million in 2025/26.
"It doesn't impact any of the commitments that we've made," she said.
The premier will also chair a drought task force that includes Ms Symes, Agriculture Minister Ros Spence and Nationals MP Peter Walsh, as well as farming, banking and local government representatives.
"We know there will be more work that we need to do," Ms Allan said.
Victorian Farmers Federation President Brett Hosking, who is on the task force, said the government had noticed backlash to the levy and decided to offer farmers a glimmer of hope.
"At a frozen level, we've placed our farmers in a position where they can get through the next 12 months," he said.
Wimmera farmer Andrew Weidemann and United Firefighters Union secretary Peter Marshall, who led the budget day protest, still want the expanded tax scrapped.
"The laws will remain on the books, and the tax will hang over the heads of every Victorian ... for every year to come," they said in a joint statement.
Victorian Nationals deputy Emma Kealy said the expanded levy on producers was "unjustified and unfair", regardless of whether they faced drought conditions or not.
"The latest drought package falls short when it comes to water and fodder requirements farmers have been calling for over several months," she said.
Farmers will be temporarily spared from paying a hiked emergency services levy as drought support is expanded statewide.
An extra $37.7 million has been earmarked for drought relief in Victoria as paddocks and dams run dry following low autumn rainfall.
A Victorian drought relief package, which includes $5000 grants, will be made available across the state after previously being limited to 24 local government areas.
Its expansion means all farmers will not pay the increased rate for the expanded emergency services levy in the 2025/26 financial year.
Their rate will remain at the same level as 2024/25 and automatically applied to notices for primary production properties.
The expansion of drought support was based on Bureau of Meteorology and Agriculture Victoria advice that the worse case for May rainfall had been realised, Premier Jacinta Allan said.
"All of Victoria is being now recognised as being affected by drought," she told reporters in Fiskville on Friday.
Thousands of farmers and firefighters protested against the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy outside Victorian parliament on May 20, the day of the state budget was handed down.
Under the original changes to the levy from July 1, the average annual bill was expected to rise $678 for primary producers and $63 for residential home owners.
Spooked by the backlash, the Allan government lowered the rate for farmers and introduced rebates for CFA and SES volunteers and life members.
The expanded levy was meant raise an extra $2.1 billion over the next three years to cover more emergency service agencies in the face of more frequent and intense natural disasters.
Treasurer Jaclyn Symes said the recent tweaks would leave the budget $73 million worse off but she remained confident of delivering an operating surplus of $600 million in 2025/26.
"It doesn't impact any of the commitments that we've made," she said.
The premier will also chair a drought task force that includes Ms Symes, Agriculture Minister Ros Spence and Nationals MP Peter Walsh, as well as farming, banking and local government representatives.
"We know there will be more work that we need to do," Ms Allan said.
Victorian Farmers Federation President Brett Hosking, who is on the task force, said the government had noticed backlash to the levy and decided to offer farmers a glimmer of hope.
"At a frozen level, we've placed our farmers in a position where they can get through the next 12 months," he said.
Wimmera farmer Andrew Weidemann and United Firefighters Union secretary Peter Marshall, who led the budget day protest, still want the expanded tax scrapped.
"The laws will remain on the books, and the tax will hang over the heads of every Victorian ... for every year to come," they said in a joint statement.
Victorian Nationals deputy Emma Kealy said the expanded levy on producers was "unjustified and unfair", regardless of whether they faced drought conditions or not.
"The latest drought package falls short when it comes to water and fodder requirements farmers have been calling for over several months," she said.
Farmers will be temporarily spared from paying a hiked emergency services levy as drought support is expanded statewide.
An extra $37.7 million has been earmarked for drought relief in Victoria as paddocks and dams run dry following low autumn rainfall.
A Victorian drought relief package, which includes $5000 grants, will be made available across the state after previously being limited to 24 local government areas.
Its expansion means all farmers will not pay the increased rate for the expanded emergency services levy in the 2025/26 financial year.
Their rate will remain at the same level as 2024/25 and automatically applied to notices for primary production properties.
The expansion of drought support was based on Bureau of Meteorology and Agriculture Victoria advice that the worse case for May rainfall had been realised, Premier Jacinta Allan said.
"All of Victoria is being now recognised as being affected by drought," she told reporters in Fiskville on Friday.
Thousands of farmers and firefighters protested against the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy outside Victorian parliament on May 20, the day of the state budget was handed down.
Under the original changes to the levy from July 1, the average annual bill was expected to rise $678 for primary producers and $63 for residential home owners.
Spooked by the backlash, the Allan government lowered the rate for farmers and introduced rebates for CFA and SES volunteers and life members.
The expanded levy was meant raise an extra $2.1 billion over the next three years to cover more emergency service agencies in the face of more frequent and intense natural disasters.
Treasurer Jaclyn Symes said the recent tweaks would leave the budget $73 million worse off but she remained confident of delivering an operating surplus of $600 million in 2025/26.
"It doesn't impact any of the commitments that we've made," she said.
The premier will also chair a drought task force that includes Ms Symes, Agriculture Minister Ros Spence and Nationals MP Peter Walsh, as well as farming, banking and local government representatives.
"We know there will be more work that we need to do," Ms Allan said.
Victorian Farmers Federation President Brett Hosking, who is on the task force, said the government had noticed backlash to the levy and decided to offer farmers a glimmer of hope.
"At a frozen level, we've placed our farmers in a position where they can get through the next 12 months," he said.
Wimmera farmer Andrew Weidemann and United Firefighters Union secretary Peter Marshall, who led the budget day protest, still want the expanded tax scrapped.
"The laws will remain on the books, and the tax will hang over the heads of every Victorian ... for every year to come," they said in a joint statement.
Victorian Nationals deputy Emma Kealy said the expanded levy on producers was "unjustified and unfair", regardless of whether they faced drought conditions or not.
"The latest drought package falls short when it comes to water and fodder requirements farmers have been calling for over several months," she said.
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