A new fire tax on NSW homeowners will be fairer for funding the state's fire and emergency services. Source: AAP
A NEW fire tax on NSW homeowners will be fairer than the current system which exempts people without home insurance from helping fund fire and emergency services, the state government says.
The proposed blanket tax could see all homeowners and landowners billed to fund the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS), NSW Fire & Rescue and the State Emergency Services (SES).
But volunteer firefighters are gearing up to fight the proposed tax which they say would see funding for emergency services fall as community donations dried up.
The government has not decided on a funding formula yet but under one proposed model, a household with a land value of $250,000 would be charged $267 annually.
The government's funding overhaul would replace the current system under which households that have taken out insurance pay a levy added onto their insurance premium.
Emergency Services Minister Mike Gallacher said on Sunday it was unfair that people who did not have home insurance were not contributing to the funding of the RFS, the states's fire brigade and the SES.
"We haven't committed to an amount, it's the process and the principle in terms of a levy that people within government believe is worthwhile," he told ABC Radio.
Mr Gallacher said the government had yet to finalise its decision on the proposed levy but extensive consultations had been held and many submissions received, which would be gone through early this year.
He said there would be a chance for public discussion on the proposal.
All other states had moved towards or had introduced such levies, the minister said.
NSW Fire Service Association President Brian McKinley says a tax-based funding system will lead to a reduced firefighting budget because people will stop donating when they think they are already paying through a tax.
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