A Convoy to Melbourne: Volunteers and Farmers Fight a Fire Levy
In the predawn darkness of budget day, veteran Country Fire Authority (CFA) volunteer Eliza Ayres boarded a bus from Elmore, joining a convoy of fire trucks rumbling down the Calder Freeway toward Melbourne. By the time the sun rose, she and thousands of volunteer firefighters and farmers had gathered on the steps of Victoria’s Parliament House – a united front of rural communities protesting what they call a “totally unfair” new emergency services levy. Many held handmade signs – one fire truck bore the stark message: “Go fight your own fires, Jacinta Allan.”
“I am here because I don’t know any farmer who can actually afford this,” Ayres said bluntly, explaining that the levy would push her costs to the brink. “Our prices have tripled over the past five years but our revenue has not, so basically we can’t afford this levy.”
This extraordinary show of dissent – dubbed by locals as the “CFA protest” – has seen convoys of country fire trucks flood into Melbourne’s CBD and hundreds of farmers and volunteers rally outside Parliament. Just days earlier, more than 500 people had staged a similar demonstration. Now, on the morning of May 20, as the state budget is set to be unveiled, the protesters have returned in greater numbers – an estimated 2,000–3,000 people – determined to make the government hear their anger.
The New Emergency Services Levy: “We Can’t Afford This”
At the heart of the furor is the Victorian Government’s Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF) – a new fire service levy that replaces the former Fire Services Property Levy. From July 1, all Victorian property owners will see this charge on their council rates, and it’s significantly higher than the old levy. The government quietly pushed the enabling legislation through in a late-night sitting, sealing deals with minor parties to secure its passage. The result is a tax hike totaling $2.1 billion over the next three years.
Under the new levy, all landholders will pay more, but farmers in particular are facing increases of tens of thousands of dollars. Ayres estimates her fire services charge will nearly double. Another farmer, Lachlan Wrigley, calculated he’d be hit with about a $10,000 increase and has since announced he is hanging up his boots after three generations in the CFA. “It’s not right that we have to pay extra in levies and then donate our time – it feels like you’re getting kicked in the gut from both directions.”
The charge on a residential home will nearly double, while commercial properties will see a 100% increase and industrial properties about 64% higher. For large farms, it could mean thousands in extra costs annually. Farmer Stu Robinson said, “We can’t budget for a tax that we don’t know about, and then it gets completely dropped on us.”
The grievance is one of fairness. Rural communities are being asked to pay more for emergency services they themselves largely provide. Volunteer Mareeta Cox called the new tax unjust, saying, “Nearly every farmer volunteers for the CFA. We’re fighting government fires and we’re paying for it and we’re volunteering as well.”
Captain Toby Acocks of Corop West shared that his brigade was promised a new tanker they didn’t even ask for, stating, “There’s definitely other brigades that need new trucks before we do.” The allocation, made without consultation, reinforces a growing sentiment that rural input is being ignored.
Mismanagement and Money: Why Is Victoria Introducing This Tax?
Officials insist the levy is necessary to ensure stable funding for emergency services amid more frequent natural disasters. The ESVF will fund the CFA, FRV, SES, 000 call centers, and the State Control Centre. According to the government, “Every single dollar raised by this new fund will support our emergency services.”
But critics argue taxpayers are footing the bill for years of poor financial management. MP Melina Bath called it “a desperate cash grab” that will do little to fix deeper issues in emergency services. “Every single Victorian who pays rates will be hit by this cruel tax, but it’s our farmers who bear the brunt,” she said.
Victoria’s debt has soared, partly due to the cancellation of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, costing taxpayers more than $589 million. Critics point to extravagant spending on Melbourne-centric projects like the Suburban Rail Loop while rural services are underfunded.
Greens MP Ellen Sandell acknowledged flaws in the original proposal. Reforms were negotiated to ensure every dollar is legislated to go to frontline services. Some concessions include a 150% cap on farm increases and levy rebates for CFA and SES volunteers – though only on their primary residence, which many say is inadequate for multi-property farmers.
Strains and Inefficiencies Inside the Fire Services
Many CFA volunteers argue the levy doesn’t fix underlying problems. Volunteer numbers have dropped by nearly 10,000 over the past decade, while career staff costs rise. Resources are poorly allocated. Some brigades go years without new trucks or equipment, while others are given new tankers they didn’t request.
Annabelle Cleeland MP highlighted that local brigades are suffering, despite volunteers now being taxed more. “Our brigades are suffering from a lack of investment, delays when it comes to crucial infrastructure and vehicle upgrades, and a massively declining volunteer force,” she said.
Volunteers also feel excluded from decision-making. Equipment allocations are often made without their input. The restructure into FRV and CFA has added complexity, and some say volunteer voices are being drowned out by bureaucracy. Local brigades continue to rely on fundraising to cover basic equipment needs.
“CFA Protest” Reverberates: Communities Demand to Be Heard
As Parliament debated the budget, the real story was on the steps outside. Farmers stood shoulder-to-shoulder with CFA volunteers, many of whom had driven hours to be there. Some are now considering leaving the service. In a dramatic response, at least 150 CFA brigades declared they were going “offline” in protest – meaning they would not be available to respond to incidents.
“It’s not what we want because that is 150 communities that weren’t protected in case of fire last night,” said Brett Hosking, president of the Victorian Farmers Federation. The move is a measure of just how disenfranchised volunteers are feeling.
Acting Chief Officer Garry Cook noted, “Volunteers and brigades, many of whom are from rural communities, have had a long summer of fire activity and are facing a lot of pressure as a result of drought which is impacting their livelihoods.” While respecting the protest, Cook and other leaders urged volunteers to prioritize community safety.
VFBV executive officer Mark Dryden added, “We want them looking after their communities, not going offline,” but acknowledged morale is low.
One Gippsland farmer speaking at the rally warned the levy would “create a crippling financial burden” and accused city politicians of a “clear disconnect.” Brett Hosking added, “It almost feels like the worse this drought gets, the harder the government pushes to take more from farmers.”
Captain Toby Acocks, although frustrated, said his brigade wouldn’t abandon their community: “To resign is really penalising the community we’re trying to serve rather than penalising the government.” That commitment to community is what fuels their protest – they aren’t trying to harm Victoria. They’re trying to save it.
A Tipping Point for Victoria’s Fire Services?
As the crowd departed Melbourne, many returned to their communities with levy bills in their mailboxes and morale at a historic low. The government’s challenge now is to restore the trust that’s been eroded – trust from those who stand between bushfires and disaster.
Unless this changes, the “cfa protest today” may be remembered not just as a cry for help, but the beginning of a rural revolt.
