The 2026–27 ACT Budget includes funding to boost frontline services in Canberra.

New investment over four years will help boost emergency services capacity.

This includes funding for:

• more first responders
• new infrastructure
• upgraded workshops, new equipment and planning.

More paramedics 

The Budget responds to growing demands on local ambulance services.

It will create 32 new roles, including:

• 20 ambulance paramedic roles
• 6 intensive care paramedic roles
• 6 operational support roles.

The operational support positions include:

• ambulance educators
• senior ambulance managers with extensive experience
• a clinical simulation technician
• more staff in the communications centre – the first line of response to emergencies.

The investment follows a 2025 review of the ACT Ambulance Service emergency operations roster. This highlighted the need for additional paramedics and operational support staff.

More firefighters 

There will be 35 new roles created at ACT Fire & Rescue. These include:

• 29 firefighter roles
• 6 operational support roles.

The Budget also includes funding an additional recruit college for 2026–27. There will also be additional roles, including Fire and Rescue Commanders.

Molonglo Emergency Services Station

ACT Fire & Rescue will operate from the brand-new Molonglo Emergency Services Station.

This will ensure 24/7 emergency response that keeps pace with the area’s population growth.

The new location will also help ensure ACT Fire & Rescue meet community expectations for faster, safer and more equitable service delivery.

The purpose-built facility will:

• directly improve community safety and wellbeing, which better protects Canberrans and their property
• strengthen public confidence, resilience and outcomes for vulnerable populations during emergencies.

City Police Station 

The Budget includes funding to progress a proposal for a new ACT Police Headquarters and City Police Station.

The next stage in the procurement process has begun for the project, which once complete, will replace two of the ACT’s oldest facilities with modern accommodation to support the policing workforce.

The new facilities will be located close to ACT Courts, ACT Government buildings and the Australian Federal Police.

Bringing together the City Station and ACT Policing Headquarters will:

• support growing ACT Policing service levels
• support operational efficiency and business continuity
• ensure Canberrans have appropriate access to policing services when needed.

The new facilities will feature modern workspaces to support health and wellbeing. There will also be specialist facilities to ensure best-practice support to victims and responses to crime.

Data, equipment and workshops 

Funding will ensure the ongoing upgrade and replacement of 43 operational Emergency Services Agency (ESA) vehicles over the life of the program.

It will also help grow the size and capabilities of the ESA’s in-house workshop. This includes funding for two extra mechanics.

Investment to modernise the response systems, such as radios, used by emergency services is also included in the Budget.

Master planning

There is funding for further master planning work. This will help determine:

• the best locations for future fire and ambulance stations
• further work needed to ensure emergency services are best placed to meet community needs.

This work will support the extensive network of stations built in recent years, including those in:

• Molonglo
• Acton
• Aranda
• South Tuggeranong.

These investments will strengthen emergency response services across the ACT.

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