No. 39

EMERGENCY SERVICES MAINTAINS OPERATIONAL FUNDING 

Emergency Services will receive $59.157 million to maintain its operational capability for the next 12 months following allocations in the 2006-07 ACT Budget, Minister for Police and Emergency Services Simon Corbell announced today. 

“The ACT Government has recognised the importance of maintaining frontline emergency services for the ACT community,” Mr Corbell said.

“This is vital with our emergency services workers and volunteers facing increasing demands across the Territory.”

The ES 2006-07 ACT Budget allocation includes funding for:
•	$12.801 million - Establishing a new Communications Centre, Specialist Outdoor Training facility and Emergency Services Support Centre at Fairbairn with further funding to be provided in 2007-08;
•	$691,000 -16 additional fire-fighters taking the ACT Fire Brigade up to the optimum level of 335 for the first time in more than 15 years; 
•	$50,000 - Recruitment of an additional 50 volunteer fire-fighters for the ACT Rural Fire Service;
•	$70,000 - Recruitment of an additional 80 volunteers for the ACT State Emergency Service;
•	$1.45 million - A new aerial fire fighting appliance for the ACT Fire Brigade;
•	$700,000 - Emergency Services Stations Upgrade Program;
•	$1.5 million - Continuation of the ES Vehicle Replacement Program; and
•	$320,000 - New Personal Protective Equipment for our bushfire fighters over four years.

“These are all initiatives to boost the delivery of frontline emergency services for the ACT community,” Mr Corbell said.

“The Stanhope Government wants to ensure our fire fighters, Intensive Care Paramedics and volunteers, who deliver on the ground to the residents of Canberra, can continue to provide a first class service.”