Police and Emergency Services Minister Rene Hidding is not ruling out an increase in Tasmania’s fire levy to provide funding for the State Emergency Service.
“The Liberal Government has switched responsibility for the SES from the consolidated fund to the Tasmanian Fire Service, which in turn is being pressured to find savings in its own budget to cover the cost,” Mr Llewellyn said.
“When asked whether the Fire Service Levy is being used to fund the activities of SES, the Minister replied that it is ‘all public money.’
“What the Minister fails to understand is that the Fire Levy, which is added to council rates, is collected solely to fund fire fighting activities.
“There is growing concern that the TFS will ultimately have no alternative but to raise the fire levy to pay for SES costs that were previously paid for from the State Budget.
“This is revenue-raising by stealth to mask the Government’s cuts to frontline services.
“Mr Hidding admitted today there was still no sustainable funding model for the SES and that the TFS would have to continue to find savings to foot the bill.
“Last year it cost $2.4 million to operate the SES.
“That is not sustainable for the TFS and there are very limited options available to raise the additional revenue required other than increasing the fire levy.
“Mr Hidding says he is not planning to raise the fire levy, but given the ease with which this Government breaks its promises, that’s no guarantee.
“The Government is attempting to play down concerns when clearly it still doesn’t have an adequate funding model for the SES.”
David Llewellyn MP Shadow Police Minister
