Country Fire Authority (CFA) volunteers are demanding the Victorian government increase its support amid a dispute over a firefighting levy [1].
The conflict highlights a growing tension between volunteer firefighters and state leadership regarding how emergency services are funded. While the government points to significant capital investments, volunteers argue that the current levy system creates an unfair financial burden on the public [2].
John Houston, president of the CFA Volunteers Group, said the government must step up in response to the dispute [1]. Volunteers have described the levy as a controversial tax that is costing Victorians [2]. This disagreement has led to calls for major protests against the firefighting tax to bring attention to the volunteers' concerns [2].
In response to the broader need for service improvements, the Victorian government announced a $365 million [3] investment in the CFA and forest firefighter upgrades. This funding package is intended to modernize equipment and enhance the capabilities of the state's firefighting force [3].
Specific allocations have been detailed in the 2026-27 budget, which includes $148.8 million [3] dedicated to upgrading CFA resources across the state. These funds are earmarked for infrastructure, and resource improvements to support the volunteer network [3].
Despite these financial commitments, the Volunteers Group maintains that the investment does not resolve the fundamental issue of the levy. The dispute centers on the nature of the charge and the level of government responsibility in funding essential emergency services without relying on the contested levy [1], [2].
“CFA volunteers are demanding that the Victorian government “step up” in response to a dispute over the CFA levy”
The dispute reflects a systemic conflict between the Victorian government's preference for a levy-based funding model and the volunteers' demand for direct state funding. While the government is deploying significant capital for equipment and resources via the 2026-27 budget, the ideological clash over the 'firefighting tax' suggests that financial investment alone may not resolve the political friction between the state and its volunteer workforce.
