Open letter: State levy causes local impact to ratepayers

Published on 28 July 2025

Hon. Jaclyn Symes MP, Treasurer of Victoria
Hon. Vicki Ward MP, Minister for Emergency Services
Hon. Colin Brooks MP, State Member for Bundoora
Hon. Anthony Carbines MP, State Member for Ivanhoe

CC: Hon. Nick Staikos MP, Minister for Consumer Affairs and Minister for Local Government

I write on behalf of the Banyule community and my fellow Councillors to express our concerns about the financial impact of the new Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy.

While Banyule Council supports the need for well-resourced emergency services, we believe the design and implementation of this levy will place unfair financial pressure on households already managing cost-of-living challenges. For many ratepayers, this levy will be double the former Fire Services Property Levy – potentially adding hundreds of dollars to some rates notices.

Banyule is also concerned about the burden of collecting this levy, despite it being a Victorian Government charge. The levy will appear on Council rates notices, creating confusion, misdirected frustration towards Council, and an undermining trust in Local Government.

We ask the Victorian treasurer Jaclyn Symes and Emergency Services Minister Vicki Ward to:

1. Increase the pension/concession rebate above the current maximum of $50 per year.
2. Fund broader financial hardship measures for vulnerable households.
3. Remove the requirement for councils to collect the levy.
4. Write directly to all ratepayers in Banyule to explain the rationale behind the levy and the reasons for the increase.

We are also asking our local MPs, Colin Brooks and Anthony Carbines, to advocate strongly on behalf of the Banyule community to remove the requirement for councils to collect the levy and, hence, its removal from Banyule Council rates notices. As trusted representatives of the Ivanhoe and Bundoora electorates, your voice in Parliament is critical in securing a better outcome for the people of Banyule.

Yours sincerely,

Cr Elizabeth Nealy
Mayor
Banyule City Council

How much more will you pay?

Based on our estimate, this table provides examples of how much the new Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy will add to rates notices, when compared with the former Fire Services levy.