Yes, sadly, it can. As council rates are based on land area, so a farmer with a large land-holding has to pay so much per sq km in thier rates for their land. Even in rural - 'in town' housing - this happens.

The rates are based on the land area. And, well, farmers tend to have a bit of land. But the State Government isn't going to collect this new tax. Premier Allan is going to make local councils add it to their annual Rates Notices, so therefore a "council charge."

I am looking forward to the next state election to let Labor know that the federal result won’t help the state outcome.

I understand - but have not confirmed - that many regional and rural Victorian councils are very angry about this. I have sought comment, but wouldn't expect answers until after 9am Monday.

This is almost exactly the same charge that was being put forward by Kennett when he was Premier. Getting local government to collect a fire levy on behalf of the state government

Bingo. Yep, goes into the (Victorian) State Budget to 'balance the budget' yet, it's not the State Government collecting said tax, they're going to force councils to put it on thier annual rates notices? Yep. Collect $200. You Pass Go.

Geoff "Jeff" Hook, Herald Sun, January 26, 1997. (from VicNews archives). Scanned from original print copy in 1997.

I'd honestly love to know what @cathywilcox.bsky.social @goldingcartoons.bsky.social and others think. How I knew it, I do not know. But I do know when 'Jeff' but his hook in the signature or 'clean space' I knew he was serious. (Yeah, I met him, he drew me lol) ...

Amongst my shoeboxes of old "The Sun" "The Herald" "Weekly Times", and "The Age" cuttings in shoeboxes, this 'Jeff' was there and it "yelled at me" Cartoons like this that as a young cadet taught me the power of an editorial cartoonist ... It seemed rather appropriate for today. Thanks Jeff.

I mean, hello Herald Sun. You've got this cartoon in your own archives. You've got a Labor Premier f'en over farmers and making local councils do the cash collect Don't you have anyone in your own newsroom library anymore? If I were at HWT, I'd republish this cartoon on the front page.

Why. Well, we've got historical context, the CFA. We've got the government making them pay more. We've got a cartoon that sums up what volunteers do? Why do I have more HWT and Age archives than they do? Oh, that's right, they fired most of 'em.