The ACT government is considering making emergency ambulance call-outs free after accepting a recommendation from a Legislative Assembly committee. Currently, an emergency ambulance service costs $1,180 in the territory, with additional charges per kilometre travelled outside of the ACT. The government has consulted with other states that cover ambulance fees and is expected to table costings for free ambulances in February. Concerns have been raised about potential unintended effects such as people canceling private health insurance due to no longer needing coverage for ambulance services.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-02,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The ACT government is considering making emergency ambulance call-outs free, following recommendations from the Legislative Assembly. Currently, an emergency ambulance service in the territory costs $1,180, with an additional $15 per kilometre traveled outside of the ACT. The government has consulted with states like Tasmania and Queensland, which already cover ambulance fees.
The ACT Greens have long advocated for free ambulances to ensure people do not hesitate to seek medical help due to costs. However, concerns about "unintended effects" such as individuals canceling their private health insurance have been raised. The government is expected to table the costings of making ambulances free in February.
Written for “Ambulance Free Policy Review” on 2026-10-04,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
In short:
The ACT government has accepted a recommendation to consider making emergency ambulance call-outs free.
asserted
outs → accept → recommendation
It currently costs $1,180 for an emergency ambulance call-out in the territory.
asserted
It → cost → territory
The government is expected to table the costings of free ambulances in February.
asserted
government → expect → February
The ACT government has consulted with the Tasmanian and Queensland governments, which both cover ambulance fees, about the potential of making ambulance call-outs free in the territory.
asserted
outs → consult → territory
An emergency ambulance call-out, including transport to a hospital, costs $1,180 in the ACT, with a further $15 added for every kilometre travelled outside of the ACT.
asserted
15 → include → ACT
The ACT Greens have long called for ambulances to be free, arguing people without private health cover may be reluctant to call for help.
uncertain
people → call → help
"When someone is going through a medical emergency, we don't want them to stop and think about how much it will cost them," Greens spokesperson for emergency services Andrew Braddock said.
"
asserted
Braddock → go → services
We know that leads to worse outcomes for to them and their health and also for our health system.
asserted
that → know → system
"
'Unintended effects' a concern
The ACT government has now accepted a recommendation from a Legislative Assembly committee to report back on the cost associated with free ambulances and how it might be implemented.
uncertain
it → accept → ambulances
The government has also consulted with other governments around the country that cover ambulance fees in their jurisdictions.
asserted
that → consult → jurisdictions
Through those conversations, as noted in the committee's budget estimates report, some concerns have been raised about "unintended effects", including people cancelling their private health insurance.
asserted
people → note → insurance
"The cost of an ambulance service is ultimately borne by the community," an ACT government spokesperson said in a statement.
asserted
spokesperson → bear → statement
"Whilst ambulance services are free for patients in some jurisdictions, residents pay for the costs of the service by other means."
asserted
residents → pay → means
Health and Emergency Services Minister Marisa Paterson has previously said boosting the paramedic workforce was the government's current investment priority.
asserted
boosting → say → workforce
"The government has been doing some costings [about free ambulances] and it does look like it is pretty expensive to do this," she said.
asserted
she → do → this
Fee exemptions require 'a degree of health literacy'
asserted
exemptions → require → literacy
On its website, the ACT government acknowledges the cost associated with ambulances "can seem daunting" but fee exemptions "are designed to support the most vulnerable members of our community".
asserted
exemptions → acknowledge → community
Health Care Consumers' Association Executive Director Lachlan Atyeo said many Canberrans may not know they are eligible for a fee exemption, potentially putting them off calling an ambulance.
uncertain
they → say → ambulance
"A lot of the time people aren't going to know those sorts of things until they are already in that situation where they need to have that knowledge," he said.
"
asserted
he → go → knowledge
There are exemptions available, there are concessions available for people, but you have to know about it which means you have to have a degree of health literacy."
asserted
you → be → literacy
Mr Atyeo said making ambulances free was a "great idea".
asserted
ambulances → say → ?
"If you need critical care, in a timely and urgent manner, then worrying about whether or not you have to pay should not be a consideration," he said.
asserted
he → need → manner
"You've got two other states demonstrating it can be done, and I see no reason why the ACT shouldn't join with those states."
asserted
ACT → get → states
Among the exemptions are people injured in a car accident, students at school, mental health patients, and victims of family violence or sexual assault.
asserted
people → injure → violence
The ACT also offers free ambulance rides to Good Samaritans injured in an emergency.
asserted
ACT → offer → emergency
Most aged pension and health care concession card holders are also entitled to free ambulance services within the ACT.
asserted
holders → entitle → ACT
People experiencing financial hardship may also apply for a waiver of their ambulance fees.
uncertain
People → experience → fees
The ACT government is expected to table the costings for free ambulances in February next year.
asserted
government → expect → February
The Aporia