The monitor for the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission says he has no evidence of progress to remove the fire services levy (FSL).

The royal commission recommended the abolition of the FSL and its replacement with a property-based tax, and the Government is expected to introduce legislation to remove the levy when state parliament reconvenes this month.

The royal commission’s report was handed down in July 2010, and former police chief commissioner Neil Comrie was appointed as implementation monitor to report on the progress of its recommendations.

In his final report last week, Mr Comrie noted the Baillieu Government had released an options paper for the removal of the levy and held public consultations last year.

But his report says that since the legislation to enable the change was not introduced to Parliament before June 30, the transition period could not commence at July 1.

“The Bushfires Royal Commission Implementation Monitor has received no evidence of progress in relation to this legislation,” Mr Comrie says.

“The [monitor] understands the Government remains committed to commence full implementation from July 1, 2013.”

The report says councils “are particularly concerned about the potential costs, transitional arrangements and collection responsibilities” of collecting a property-based tax.