The Australian Capital Territory Emergency Services Agency (ACT ESA) was established by the Emergencies Act 2004 (ACT), which came into effect on 1 July 2004. The mission of the ACT ESA is to protect and preserve life, property and the environment in the ACT.

The ACT ESA is responsible for:

• determining the overall strategic direction and management of the emergency services (including by advising the Minister on capability and preparedness);
• educating the community and improving its preparedness for emergencies;
• providing common planning, administrative and logistics support for the emergency services, including common communications and emergency coordination centres.

Structure

The Commissioner, ESA reports to Chief Executive of the Department of Justice & Community Safety, who is responsible to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. The ACT ESA comprises: four emergency service agencies and several support areas, including: Training Services, Technical Services, Risk & Planning Services, IT Support & Communications. The four operational agencies are:

• ACT Ambulance Service
• ACT Fire Brigade
• ACT Rural Fire Service
• ACT State Emergency Service.

Commissioners

• 2003-2006 Peter Dunn
• 2006-present Gregor Manson

Budget

Year	Government Payment for Outputs
2008/09	AUS$66.794m
2007/08	AUS$60.421m
2006/07	AUS$59.157m
2005/06	AUS$53.495m
2004/05	AUS$44.813m

History

1993-2004 Emergency Services Bureau

Prior to 1 July 2004, emergency services in the ACT were delivered by the Emergency Services Bureau, an agency of the ACT Department of Justice and Community Safety.

2004-2006 Emergency Services Authority

The Emergencies Act 2004 (ACT) established the ESA as a statutory authority.

2006- now Emergency Services Agency

In the 2006-07 Australian Capital Territory budget, the ACT Government announced that the ESA would again be subsumed by the ACT Department of Justice and Community Safety, effective 1 July 2006.

References

• Emergencies Act 2004 (ACT)
• ACT ESA Annual Report 2004/05
• ACT ESA Annual Report 2005/06
• McLeod, Ron. 2003. Inquiry into the Operational Response to the January 2003 Bushfires in the ACT
• Doogan, Maria. 2006. The Canberra Firestorm - Inquests and Inquiry into Four Deaths and Four Fires between 8 and 18 January 2003.

See also

• ACT Ambulance Service
• Gregor Manson, ESA Commissioner
• Peter Dunn, former ESA Commissioner
• ACT Fire Brigade

External links

• ACT Emergency Services Agency Website
• ACT Ambulance Service Website
• ACT Fire Brigade Website
• ACT Rural Fire Service Website
• ACT State Emergency Service Website
• ACT Government Website
• ACT Department of Justice and Community Safety Website