Member for Benalla Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture & Water
Fire Service Levy - changes called for by Bushfire Royal Commission lawyers
The Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes said he was pleased to hear the lawyers for the Bushfire Royal Commission have joined with the Victorian Liberal National Coalition in acknowledging the current Fire Services Levy (FSL) model is inequitable and should be changed.
“For a long time I have been calling for changes to the Fire Service Levy (FSL) and I welcome the Counsel Assisting’s submission to the Royal Commission today which states that the current FSL model should be abandoned and replaced with a property based model,” Dr Sykes said.
Dr Sykes said the current FSL, which funds fire services including the Country Fire Authority, is grossly unfair in its current form because it encourages people to under-insure or to not insure at all.
“Only those who take out insurance actually contribute to fire services by way of an additional tax on insurance premiums,” Dr Sykes said.
“The Brumby Government has refused to act despite growing anger and frustration over the FSL expressed by businesses and home owners,” Dr Sykes said.
“The Brumby Government has known for years how unfair and inequitable the FSL is but it has done nothing – everyone except John Brumby acknowledges that his government’s Fire Services Levy is a tax.
“The Victorian Liberal National Coalition in government is committed to implementing a fairer system than the one that currently stands,” Dr Sykes said.
Media enquiries Bill Sykes 0427 624 989
Bill Sykes MP, State Member for Benalla
Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture & Water
2/55 Carrier Street, Benalla 3672
Ph: 03 5762 2100 Fx: 03 5762 4478 Mobile: 0427 624 989
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