Should volunteers pay the ESL?
The state’s 15,000 active Country Fire Service, SA Ambulance and State Emergency Service volunteers will be exempt from paying the emergency services levy if SA Best gains the balance of power at next month’s state election.
SA Best leader Nick Xenophon says the emergency services would not function without volunteers.
“It is simply ludicrous that our volunteers are expected to pay the ESL when, in many cases, they risk their own lives while actively serving the community," he said.
But Opposition emergency services spokesperson Stephan Knoll criticised the volunteer exemption, saying it would create more red tape for brigades and lead to fake volunteers joining just to get the rebate. Read more here.
