Press Releases

Member for Mildura, Peter Crisp, has again urged constituents to shop around for insurance company options in relation to charges for the Fire Services Levy on their premiums.

Mr Crisp said the Government had not increased the Fire Services Levy that is included in insurance premiums and urged policy holders to check their insurance renewals carefully.

“When the Coalition was elected to Government in Victoria we promised to replace the Fire Services Levy with a fairer, more equitable property-based levy in the 2013-14 financial year and this is still the case” Mr Crisp said.

The Victorian Coalition Government adopted all Bushfires Royal Commission recommendations including that the Fire Services Levy be replaced with a property-based levy and to introduce concessions for low-income earners.

Mr Crisp said the Coalition Government will introduce a new levy that at long last ensures all Victorian property owners will pay a fair contribution to fire services, while ensuring Victoria's fire services continue to operate equitably and with sufficient resources.

“The Government’s timeline made it clear that the 2012-13 financial year is a transition year and we will be working with the industry to ensure the Fire Services Levy is administered fairly during this period,” Mr Crisp said.

“In fact, in the recent budget there was a reduction of 9.6 per cent in the amount required to fund the insurance contribution to our fire brigades.

“The charges being made on premiums for the Fire Services Levy differs between insurance companies and any increase in the percentage they charge is a decision of the individual insurance company,” he said.

Mr Crisp has recommended you ask your insurance company to explain any increases on your premium and, if you are not satisfied with their response, consult with other companies and shop around.

The National Member for Mildura, Peter Crisp, said residents across much of the Mildura electorate have expressed outrage at massive increases in property insurance premiums.

“I am disappointed insurance companies are including compulsory flood coverage on insurance policies along with increases in premiums,” Mr Crisp said.

“Many of those constituents, who have contacted my office, have informed me their property is not in a flood prone area.

“Should insurance premiums continue to rise, it may well reach a stage where people simply cannot afford to have property insurance.”

Mr Crisp also said that as a result of the Bushfire Royal commission the Victorian Coalition Government had called for community consultation for the design and implementation of a fairer, more equitable system to fund fire services in Victoria.

“The Coalition Government in adopting the Bushfires Royal Commission recommendations will introduce a new levy that ensures all Victorian property owners pay a fairer contribution to the state's fire services, while ensuring Victoria's fire services continue to operate with sufficient resources,” Mr Crisp said.

“History shows us that appropriately fire-fighting services are vital to the preservation of life and property and it is to be hoped that insurance companies do not take advantage in the aftermath of natural disasters,” Mr Crisp said.