Facts:
From 1 July 2015 local households and business in the Murray Plains region face a massive hike in their fire services property levy (FSPL).
Despite a pre-election pledge to hold all tax increases to CPI the Melbourne Labor Government is gouging an additional $42.1 million from Victorian property owners in this financial year – an increase of 7.2 per cent.
In the Shire of Gannawarra the FSPL will increase 6.2 per cent with the average homeowner paying a levy of $128 this year up from $120 last year under the Coalition.
This money will go towards funding some of the pay claims made by the United Firefighters Union such as claiming a full day of overtime even if only 20 minutes is actually worked and an annual 9.7 per cent pay rise.
Quotes attributable to Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh
“This is another example of a purely political agenda by Daniel Andrews.
“The fundamental issue is that he is beholden to the unions in Melbourne at the expense of the people who live and work in regional and rural Victoria.
“Daniel Andrews sadly doesn’t care about country Victorians – all he cares about is helping out his union mates.”