Emergency services continue to perform well

Despite increasing demand for emergency services across Canberra, results according to the latest Report on Government Services (ROGS) show positive response times for both the ACT Ambulance Service and ACT Fire and Rescue, Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Simon Corbell, said today.

The ACT Fire and Rescue led the nation on the containment of structural fires to their room of origin and had the second fastest response times in Australia for structural fires in Major Cities at the 90th percentile.

"The Government has invested significantly in our emergency services, particularly the ACT Ambulance Service with approx $22 million allocated in the 2011/12 budget over four years, designed to improve service delivery for Canberrans" Mr Corbell said.

Some key indicators in this report:

• ACT Fire and Rescue had the second fastest response times to structure fires in Australia for the 90th percentile major cities and the fastest for the 90th percentile state-wide indicators
• ACT Fire and Rescue was ranked first in the country for containing structure fires to the room of origin
• ACT Ambulance Service reported improved emergency response times at both the 50th and 90th percentile indicators despite continued high levels of demand for ambulance services.
• a 47% decrease in grass and bushfires was reported from the previous year consistent with a milder fire season
• there was a 37% increase in the number of calls for assistance to flooding and storm incidents during the year
• the ACT Ambulance Service has reduced operational workforce attrition rates of personnel from 7.2% to 4.6%.

"Canberra is a growing city which will require constant investment in emergency services to ensure Canberrans have confidence that they can be provided assistance in their time of need," Mr Corbell said.

"Last year the Government announced a plan for the future locations of emergency services stations which will see certain ambulance and fire stations relocated to allow for response times to be more easily achieved within national benchmarks.

"The ACT Labor Government takes seriously its responsibility to properly resource emergency services to assist them to meet national targets and will continue to fund ACTAS and ACT Fire and Rescue to perform their crucial role in our community."