In 2011 it will be the 50th Anniversary of the introduction of a single national number to provide access to emergency services organisations. The number chosen was Triple Zero (000).
To learn more about the history of Triple Zero (000), please visit the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) website ACMA.
Regulatory framework
ACMA regulates and monitors the provision of the Emergency Call Service (ECS) under Part 8 of the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999. 
The Telecommunications Numbering Plan 1997, also administered by ACMA, specifies that:
- the primary emergency service number is '000'; and
- the secondary emergency service numbers are '106' and '112'.
More information on ACMA's role in the Emergency Call Service can be found on the ACMA website.
Emergency Call Persons
The Telecommunications (Emergency Call Persons) Determination 1999 (the Determination), specifies the operators of the Emergency Call Services. The Determination details the national operators for these numbers.
The Determination recognises Telstra as the Emergency Call Person for Triple Zero (000) and 112. Telstra has responsibility for providing the service which answers calls to these numbers, and transfers them, with relevant associated information, to the requested emergency service organisation. More information on Telstra's provision of this service is available from the Telstra website.
Under the Determination, the National Relay Service (NRS) provider has the same responsibility with regard to the emergency service number 106 Text Emergency Relay Service number, for callers who are deaf or who have a hearing or a speech impairment. The provider of the NRS is Australian Communication Exchange (ACE).
The Telecommunications (Emergency Call Service) Determination 2002 sets out the obligations on carriers to ensure that it has arrangements in place for dealing with emergency calls. The carrier must provide free access to the Emergency Call Service.
The Commonwealth Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy has federal responsibility for the Triple Zero Emergency Call Service.
Emergency Service Organisations
It is the responsibility of States and Territories to protect the life and property of Australians. Each State and Territory has its own Emergency Service Organisations which send Police, Fire and/or Ambulance to emergencies.
After the Emergency Call Person has taken your call they will hand the call to the relevant emergency service organisation. Please stay on the line until you are connected to the emergency service.
A list of emergency service organisations can be found on the State and Territory Emergency Services Organisations page on this site.
The Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department has federal responsibility for emergency matters, including assisting for State and Territory Emergency Service Organisations.
Discussion papers and reports
The ACMA website contains a number of discussion papers and reports relating to the Emergency Call Service.