THE STATE Government was insulting farmers and burdening them with potential a 400 per cent tax hike with its new emergency services levy.
Victorian Farmers’ Federation president Brett Hosking said the Government needed to find a better solution to the levy it will introduce on July 1.
The new levy has already been criticised by Loddon farmers and raised concerns with the shire council who fear it will be blamed for the higher fees included in rate notices.
Mr Hosking said some farmers would be forced to pay up to 400 per cent more than the current fire services levy. 
He said the new levy would place an enormous and unfair financial burden on “those already struggling and farmers who are facing volatile prices, ever-decreasing profit margins and increasing extreme weather events”.
“This tax hike is just another cost farm businesses will be forced to pay and it’s time to go back to the drawing board and find a better solution,” he said.
“A one-size-fits-all approach clearly doesn’t work when you’ve got some farmers facing a hike of up to 400 per cent.  There’s no way a rise of that much can be justified and for some, it could be the nail in the coffin for their farm businesses.’
Mr Hosking added that while levies which fund fire services were critical, the current broad-based tax was unfit for use and the Victorian Government must urgently consider an alternative.
“Instead of placing a blanket levy on all property owners, the government should consider a more targeted approach that ensures the funds are distributed where they’re needed most,” he said.
“Rural Victorians are already bearing the brunt of many challenges, from droughts to fires. This levy will add insult to injury, making it even harder for farmers to recover and thrive.
“The current approach certainly isn’t a solution that supports the needs of country Victorians and we’re urging the government to reassess its approach and explore more equitable solutions,” Mr Hosking said.
More than 100 farmers at a VFF regional forum in St Arnaud earlier this month voted for change to the emergency services tax.