Urgent calls for interconnected bedroom smoke alarms in the ACT

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Published: 01 June 2026

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The ACT Government are being called on to modernise legislation to mandate interconnected photo-electric smoke alarms in every bedroom.

Canberra resident and fire survivor Liz Albanis is leading the calls, saying that interconnected bedroom smoke alarms can prevent tragic and fatal housefires.

Mrs Albanis is urging the ACT Government to implement a legislative roadmap to bring the Territory in line with Queensland:

  • Mandate Alarms Inside All Bedrooms: Close the loophole that only requires hallway alarms. Legally mandate that photoelectric smoke alarms must be installed inside every bedroom.
  • Retrospective Interconnection for Older Homes: Remove exemptions for older properties; introduce a phased, mandatory timeline requiring all existing homes to retrofit a fully interconnected alarm network.
  • Enforce Gold-Standard Rental Compliance: Ban the use of cheap, removable 9V battery standalone units in rental properties. Mandate that landlords install tamper-proof, interconnected networks powered by mains power or 10-year sealed lithium batteries.

These calls come as part of Smoke Alarm Action Day.