David Webb Ware comments on ESVF and the drought

WHEN asked his thoughts on the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF), farmer, first lieutenant at Glenburn CFA and deputy group officer of the Yea Group, David Webb Ware said, “It’s an utter disgrace. What it does, it just shows the utter contempt this government has for regional Victoria.”

He said, “Probably the one question that needs to be asked which nobody has answered is why have farmers been hit with the highest percentage increase? I know the answer. It’s because farmers tend not to vote for Labor.”

He explained that residential rates have gone from 8.7 cents per $1000 capital improved value to 17.3 cents. Farmers have gone from 28.7 cents per $1000 to 71.8.

“Why should farmers be paying that much higher percentage increase?” David said.

David also provided the following figures.

In the last rate notice, if you had a $750,000 house, you would have been charged $65 under the new residential rates. You’ll now be charged $130.

If you have a residential house valued at $1.5 million dollars, it’s gone from $130 to $260.

Farms, including hobby farms, anybody on the rural one or rural two rate, a $1.5 million hobby farm, for instance, went from $430 to $1077.

A $3 million hobby farm or farm went from $860 to $2154.

A $5 million farm, getting towards a viable farm size, from $1435 to $3590.

“Tell me why a farm should be paying $3590 and a residential paying $260. The fact that a lot of the farmers are CFA members, it is such a kick in the guts. We go and do the work, and…