Danny O’Brien MP – Deny, dispute, deflect – Labor cuts are real, despite the spin
The Allan Labor Government continues to mislead Victorians on cuts to emergency services as the impact of the cruel emergency services tax looms.
Premier Jacinta Allan in Parliament today declared the tax is “all about providing more support to our fire and emergency services’’.
That claim is in stark contrast with reality, as budget cuts to the Country Fire Authority, State Emergency Service and Fire Rescue Victoria were recently revealed by the Treasurer in a Government Gazette.
The Allan Labor Government is taking more under the $3 billion emergency services tax and giving less to frontline services.
Despite constant questioning in the past two months, the government has refused to acknowledge the cuts.
Premier Allan’s comments came after revelations $500 million of the $3 billion emergency services tax grab would be collected from rental providers.
These costs will be passed on to renters, yet the Premier refused to answer if the government had even considered the impact of the tax being passed onto renters already struggling.
Shadow Minister for Emergency Services, Danny O’Brien, said it was laughable that Premier Allan was spruiking “more support” for frontline workers.
“Labor is cutting frontline budgets while hitting us all with a new tax,” Mr O’Brien said.
“That tax is all about filling budget black holes and propping up backroom executives, not supporting the frontline services.
“In a cost of living and housing crisis, it is damning that renters will have to pay a heavy price for this new, cruel tax.
“The Nationals and Liberals will scrap the emergency services tax in government. It will be consigned to history, where it belongs.”