21/06/2025
Ben Green, the Deputy Mayor of Central Goldfields Shire and Councillor for Paddys Ranges Ward, recently weighed in on the controversial Emergency Services Levy,
In a public statement, he backed the protests, questioning the state’s motives, and called for the entire thing to be scrapped beyond the token 12-month reprieve.
“Welcome to winter,” he began in a recent statement, “and I encourage everyone to make a rain dance and keep our farmers close to our thoughts and actions.”
It was a warm lead-in to what became a pointed swipe at the Victorian Labor Government’s latest cost grab.
Ben praised the “valiant demonstrations” at Parliament House, where rural Victorians travelled long distances to make their voices heard.
“I applaud all those who made the huge effort to travel long distances and leave their homes, farms, jobs, and places of business,” he continued.
He also highlighted that Central Goldfields Shire had supported a motion through the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) to formally raise concerns with the State Government, which was passed unanimously.
Since then, Council has engaged a lawyer via MAV to legally analyse the levy and its payment protocols, and Ben himself has attended numerous follow-up meetings.
But perhaps most interestingly, Ben said he was “most thankful” to the Member for Ripon, Martha Haylett, for her protests against the levy’s unfairness, despite the fact Martha voted FOR the bill in Parliament.
The irony wasn’t lost on many – how can someone slam a policy publicly while supporting it in the chamber? And why is Ben thanking her for protesting legislation she helped pass?
Ben didn’t let the government off the hook, though, saying the 12-month farmer reprieve isn’t enough and that local businesses who rely on agriculture deserve relief too.
“I believe they too ought to receive a reprieve,” he said. “As a Council, we will continue to advocate for the levy to be scrapped beyond the next year.”
So while Labor tries to patch over growing backlash with temporary measures, Central Goldfields Shire Council is lawyering up and calling it what it is – a cash grab that hits rural Victoria hardest.
