The Queensland government says it will recruit more than one hundred extra firefighters on top of those it was already targeting in the coming years.
The commitment comes as part of the response to a review of fire and emergency services in the state by KPMG International Limited.
Independent reviewers noted that no stakeholders felt the current arrangements are working effectively, and made 19 recommendations for structural change.
The government has accepted all recommendations in principal, aside from one relating to the introduction of a new levy.
KPMG proposed a flat-line fee for 2.3 million Queensland properties at a rate of $13 per quarter, to generate $120 million annually.
"This government is...acutely aware of cost of living pressures facing Queenslanders," Fire and Emergency Services minister Mark Ryan told parliament on Wednesday.
As a result of the other recommendations, the SES and marine rescue services - under the soon-to-be established Marine Rescue Queensland - will have their own dedicated budgets within Queensland Police.
The report also found that disaster management should sit with the police, to which the government has agreed.
A dedicated fire services department will also be established, including the Royal Fire Service as a separate entity with a dedicated budget.
"The change will respect and maintain the identity of these rightly proud services," Mr Ryan said.
State Disaster Coordinator Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski will lead the reforms, expected to take about two years.
It will result in a stronger capacity to respond to disasters as well as more support for volunteers, staff and officers, Mr Ryan said.
"They give of their time, they make sacrifices of their own, to serve us, to protect us, to be there for us in our time of need," he said on Wednesday.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced $400 million to add personnel and upgrade firefighting equipment on Wednesday, a day after her government revealed a much higher than expected 2021/22 budget surplus of $4.3 billion.
The government had planned to hire 357 firefighters by 2026, but it has raised that target to 500.
"Our emergency services do an extraordinary job keeping us safe and it is crucial that we continue to stay well prepared," Ms Palaszczuk tweeted on Wednesday morning.
"We are well prepared and the historic changes we will announce today will help put our emergency service personnel in the best position to respond when disasters strike."
This investment means the SES annual budget will grow to $60 million per year, up from $23 million.
Queensland firefighters are responsible for rescuing people from a range of disaster situations, including during floods and cyclones.
The state is the most disaster-prone in Australia and has faced 100 events since 2011, Ms Palaszczuk said.
