Fire Brigade Employees’ Union secretary Jim Casey says the government has a clear agenda to reward big business by transferring costs away from them to working families.

He says it makes sense for insurance companies to provide the bulk of fire service funding because they benefit from quality fire services, saving them billion of dollars in claims.

Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association of NSW spokeswoman Amelia Christie said pensioners were over-represented among home owners without building insurance because they couldn’t afford the premiums.

She called for a fire levy safety net for those on low, fixed incomes genuinely unable to afford to pay it.

“Those deemed unable to pay should not be placed in financial hardship by the introduction of a property-based fire levy.”

via NSW fire levy could cost $300 a year – The West Australian.