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 Emergency Services Agency (ESA) is the ACT Government organisation charged with providing emergency management services to the Canberra community. The ESA Mission is “We work together to care and protect through cohesive operations, collaborative management and a unified executive”.
The ESA workforce profile includes over 2500 full time and volunteer personnel.
Structure The Commissioner, ESA reports to Director-General of the Justice & Community Safety Directorate (JACS), who is responsible to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. The ACT ESA comprises: four emergency service agencies and several support areas, including: People and Culture, Governance and Logistics, Risk & Planning Services, Emergency Media and Broadcasting Services. The four operational agencies are: ACT Ambulance Service ACT Fire & Rescue ACT Rural Fire Service ACT State Emergency Service
Commissioners 2003–2006 Peter Dunn AO 2006–2009 Gregor Manson 2009 David Foot ASM (Acting) 2010–2013 Mark Crosweller AFSM 2013–2019 Dominic Lane AFSM 2019–2023 Georgeina Whelan AM, CSC and Bar 2024–current Wayne Phillips
Budget
YearTotal Cost2024/25A$231.266m2023/24A$217.601m2022/23A$203m2019/20A$161.279m2018/19A$147.924m2017/18A$141.531m2016/17A$143.929m2008/09A$66.794m2007/08A$60.421m2006/07A$59.157m2005/06A$53.495m2004/05A$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–present: 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.
See also ACT Ambulance Service ACT Rural Fire Service ACT Fire & Rescue Gregor Manson, former ESA Commissioner Peter Dunn, former ESA Commissioner National Council for Fire & Emergency Services
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.
External links ACT Emergency Services Agency Website ACT Justice and Community Safety Directorate Website ACT Government Website