CFS volunteers refuse to fight Ceduna fire to protest against Emergency Services Levy hike
Country Fire Service (CFS) volunteers in South Australia have refused to fight a fire in protest against a rise to the state's Emergency Services Levy (ESL).
Two volunteers refused to respond to a call to fight at White Well near Ceduna on Tuesday.
It followed concerns raised by farmers last month that a significant rise to the ESL this year had led to backlash against emergency workers with some rural employers reluctant to let their workers travel too far afield to fight fires.
The levy was originally implemented to pay for firefighters, state emergency services and marine rescue crews.
But this year's increase was launched in the State Budget to help compensate for significant Federal Budget cuts to health and education.
It meant a $400,000 home would attract a $150 annual increase, while a $1 million property would increase by about $370.
CFS needs 'to take a stand'
CFS Streaky Bay and Ceduna region deputy group officer George Baldwin said he was initially surprised by the stand taken by his volunteers.
"I thought, 'well gee, this is a bit of a poor attitude'," he said.
"But now that I've had time to think about it, I just feel we've got to take a stand.
"In a lot of these situations you've got to be pretty radical to make someone else listen to you."
Farmers have been among some of the worst hit by the increase, largely because they often own multiple properties - each of which would incur an individual levy hike.
The government has, however, implemented lower ESL rates for regional and remote landowners.
Hike will not increase volunteer funding
The CFS earlier this month tried to distance itself from the hike, pointing out it would not result in any increase to volunteer funding.
The officers said they wanted to distance themselves from what they described as "total arrogance and disrespect" shown towards volunteers, farmers, businesses and the community.
"It's alright for these government fellas to sit in their shiny offices and just say, 'oh well, we need a bit more money here, so we'll up this levy here and do this and do that'," Mr Baldwin said.
"At the end of the day, it's all the taxpayers that are paying the money anyway."
State Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis said he would not comment on the volunteers' actions near Ceduna.
He said the State Government would immediately return the increases to the ESL if Prime Minister Tony Abbott overturned his cuts to SA health spending announced in the Federal Budget, which equated to about $600 million.
