State agrees to close levy gap for firies

THE NSW Government has agreed to foot the bill of the increased emergency services levy for three councils in the Dubbo electorate.

An increase in the cost of workers’ compensation for volunteer and career firefighters is the reason behind the upped fees.

Dubbo Regional Council, Narromine Shire Council and Mid Western Regional Council will respectively receive $155,424, $51,139 and $124,719 this financial year to help pay for the increases.

The announcement, made by Member for Dubbo Dugald Saunders on Tuesday, comes after the increased levy was slumped on councils without warning in May.

Some councils resisted the increase, arguing it was only flagged with them after they had done their 2019-20 budgets.

“The Government acknowledges that this additional cost presented some challenges for our local councils,” Mr Saunders said.

“We also acknowledge that our local councils had already set their 2019-20 budgets before the invoices for the increased emergency services levy were issued and this has caused some angst.

“That’s why the Government will provide councils in the Dubbo electorate a total of more than $330,000 this financial year to alleviate the immediate pressure.”

The other 128 councils in the State will also receive a share of $13.6 million to cover the emergency services levy increase and fund workers’ compensation for firefighters.

Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock said the state and local governments must continue to work together to look after the health and wellbeing of frontline firefighters.

“We have listened to the concerns of local councils and will continue to consult with them to better manage the impacts of the emergency services levy, especially on their annual budgeting cycles,” Ms Hancock said.

“It is clear that both state and local governments acknowledge the importance of providing support for those emergency services workers who have given so much to protect communities and I look forward to continuing to work with local councils to ensure this is the case.”