The ACT opposition wants to re-establish the Emergency Services Agency as an independent body in order to stamp out "poor management" and "complacency".
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Opposition emergency services spokesman Brendan Smyth said the Canberra Liberals wanted the government to re-establish the agency as a statutory authority, independent of the Justice and Community Safety Directorate.
He said the move would pave the way for better management and enhanced capability.
"The ESA has been dogged by poor management and there are serious concerns that operational capabilities are being eroded by complacency," Mr Smyth.
"Removing the ESA from JACS and scrapping the ESA commissioner role in favour of a CEO are necessary changes to give Canberra's emergency services the new start it needs to do the best job possible in protecting Canberrans."
The agency encompasses the ACT Ambulance Service, ACT Fire & Rescue, the ACT Rural Fire Service, the ACT State Emergency Service and ESA Support Services.
Mr Smyth said proposed changes to the agency's executive structure, including three extra executive positions to oversee support services, had been questioned by the United Firefighters Union.
"There are doubts the changes will lead to better services provisions in ACT Fire and Rescue and the ACT Rural Fire Service," Mr Smyth said.
Mr Smyth will call on the government to re-establish the agency as a statutory authority in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.
