Dear Sir/Madam,
It is anticipated that from 01 July 2017, the “Emergency Services Property Levy” will become law after being presented to the NSW Parliament by the Liberal/National Party, Baird Government. Perhaps the fear of a repeat community campaign such as that over greyhounds and forced amalgamation is keeping the proposal officially under wraps until the last possible moment before the next election.
If such a new tax, which will be required to be collected by Councils through the “rate notices”, is to cover State Emergency Services, to attend property damage events etc., as a levy, then it could well be that unless the property (home or business) and contents private insurance cover of 15.6%, “Fire Services Levy” is removed from the current insurance policy, then a definite case of “double dipping” will be the order of the day.
It has been a long held contentious issue that everyone receives State Emergency Service when in need, either if by fire or storm etc. regardless of paying an insurance “fire service levy” or not. This is a mandatory charge through their personal insurance policy(s). Those who rent or lease would have to have added a percentage increase in the rent commensurate with the rate of the levy imposed by the Council.
Yours sincerely,
Bill Barwood
Canowindra