Australian Capital Territory Emergency Services Agency

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.^[1] The mission of the ACT ESA is to protect and preserve life, property and the environment in the ACT.

A.C.T. Emergency Services Agency

Agency overview
Formed	2004
Jurisdiction	Government of the Australian Capital Territory
Annual budget	A$231m (2024–25)
Agency executives	Wayne Phillips, Commissioner Glenn Brewer, Assistant Commissioner (Capability) Megan Davis, Assistant Commissioner (Corporate) David Dutton, Assistant Commissioner (Collaboration) Howard Wren, Chief Officer, ACT Ambulance Service Matt Shonk, Interim Chief Officer, ACT Fire and Rescue Rohan Scott, Chief Officer, ACT Rural Fire Service Steve Forbes, A/g Chief Officer, ACT State Emergency Service
Parent agency	Justice and Community Safety Directorate
Child agencies	ACT Ambulance Service ACT Fire and Rescue ACT Rural Fire Service ACT State Emergency Service
Website	www.esa.act.gov.au

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

Year	Total Cost
2024/25	A$231.266m [2]
2023/24	A$217.601m [2]
2022/23	A$203m [3]
2019/20	A$161.279m [4]
2018/19	A$147.924m [5]
2017/18	A$141.531m [6]
2016/17	A$143.929m
2008/09	A$66.794m [7]
2007/08	A$60.421m [8]
2006/07	A$59.157m [9]
2005/06	A$53.495m [10]
2004/05	A$44.813m [11]

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