Fees and ticketing

The National Capital Authority (NCA) manages the pay parking arrangements in parts of Parkes, Barton, Russell and Acton on behalf of the Australian Government including enforcement and breaches of parking regulations. Pay parking aims to prioritise spaces for visitors to the national institutions and assist with ongoing parking management on National Land. The hours of parking operation are from 8.30 am to 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays).

The National Land (Road Transport) Ordinance 2014 established the NCA as the administering authority for enforcement of parking regulations on National Land. NCA parking officers can issue infringement notices to vehicles in areas where it is illegal to stop or park or when parking tickets have expired.

Legislation has also been introduced that makes it an offence to park a vehicle on open space and landscaped areas. This includes access paths, grassed areas and paved surfaces in and around the national institutions, Old Parliament House Gardens, and East and West Lawns. Vehicles driving and parking on open space can impact pedestrian access and safety, and cause damage to the landscape such as tree roots, plants and irrigation infrastructure.

The price for parking in Australian Government owned car parks in the Central National Area has been set at a rate close to market prices.

Pre-paid 5 day tickets are available to be purchased from the long stay ticket machines. A limited amount of on street parking is also available for up to one hour at no charge.

All money collected from pay parking and infringements is directed to the Australian Government's Consolidated Revenue Fund.

Paying for parking

When using a car park on National Land in Parkes, Barton, Russell and Acton, there are four payment options to purchase parking tickets. If one of these payment options is temporarily unavailable, you are required to pay for parking using one of the other options. Details on how to pay for parking are outlined below.

Payment option 1: Phone app – EasyPark*

• Download the EasyPark app, available for iOS and Android
• Register your details via the app
• Locate the car park on the app (the parking area code is found on the closest machine)
• Press ‘P’
• Select your parking option
• Press the timer or spin the dial to set an end time
• Press ‘START parking’ to start your parking session
• You will only be charged at the end of your parking session
• You will not receive a physical ticket and therefore you are not required to display one

* An additional service fee will apply.

Payment option 2: credit card - Visa and Mastercard

• Locate the ticket machine
• Enter your vehicle registration number
• The machine will automatically default to the maximum time and amount payable
• If you require less than the maximum time, use the minus (-) button to adjust. If you require more time, use the plus (+) button to adjust the time. The amount will decrease or increase by 50c each time you press the button
• Check screen to verify the vehicle registration, time and value to be purchased are correct
• Once verified, press the ‘Confirm’ button to purchase ticket
• Insert or tap (contactless payment) credit card to make payment
• Collect your ticket from the green tray and display it printed side up on your vehicle dashboard.

Press RED button at any time to cancel payment.

*Minimum payment of $1.00 for credit card payments. Adjustments must be made to payment/duration before you press P button for PRINT, which will confirm and authorise your payment.

Payment option 3: Coins

Payments can be made using coins only ($2, $1, 50c, 20c, 10c)

• Locate the coin ticket machine
• Enter your vehicle registration number
• Insert coins into the coin entry for the required amount of parking time
• Check screen to verify payment
• Once verified, press the P button to PRINT ticket
• Collect your ticket from the green tray and display it printed side up on your vehicle dashboard.

Press RED button at any time to cancel payment.

Payment option 4: Pay over the phone*

• Locate the ticket machine
• The machine displays a code which identifies your parking area
• Call 1300 734 070 and follow the voice prompts.

* An additional service fee will apply.

Short stay car parks

The short stay car parks are generally located near institutions and in small areas adjacent to office buildings.

Various signage around short stay parking areas will be identified with 4P signage. Short stay car parks include credit card and coin operated machines and will accept payment for a maximum of four hours.

Tickets purchased with coin or credit card in short stay areas at the ticket machine can be identified by a purple stripe on the bottom of the ticket. Payments made by the EasyPark app or over the phone will only be accepted up to the maximum of four hours.

You can move between short stay and long stay parking areas with the same ticket. However, you cannot use an all-day ticket in a short stay car park.

Long stay car parks

The majority of car parks adjacent to office buildings are long stay parking.

Long stay parking machines accept payment for short stay (hourly rate) payments up to the all day rate. Most machines in the long stay car parks accept payment by credit card only. There is at least one machine that accepts payment via coin and credit card in all day car parks.

Tickets purchased with coin or credit card in long stay areas at the ticket machine can be identified by a green stripe on the bottom of the ticket. Payments made via the EasyPark app or over the phone will only be accepted up to the maximum daily rate. Multi-day tickets cannot be purchased via the EasyPark app or over the phone.

Multi-day tickets

Multi-day tickets are valid for up to five consecutive days from the day of purchase (excluding weekends and public holidays). The multi-day tickets can be used in the long stay car parks operated by the NCA only and cannot be used in short stay car parks. Purchase of a two, three, four or five day pre-paid ticket is by credit card only. A discount only applies to five day prepay tickets.

Purchase of a multi-day ticket is by credit card only and only available via a ticket machine.

No refunds or credit will be given for lost, unused or stolen parking tickets including five day tickets.

To purchase a multi-day ticket:

• Locate the ticket machine
• Enter your vehicle registration number
• The machine will automatically default to the maximum time and amount payable
• Adjust the time by using the plus (+) or minus (-) button to adjust the end date/time
• Check screen to verify the vehicle registration, time and value to be purchased are correct
• Once verified, press the ‘Confirm’ button to purchase ticket
• Insert or tap (contactless payment) credit card to make payment
• Collect your ticket from the green tray and display it printed side up on your vehicle dashboard.

Press RED button at any time to cancel payment.

*Minimum payment of $1.00 for credit card payments. Adjustments must be made to payment/duration before you press 'Confirm' , which will confirm and authorise your payment.

Credit card facilities

All parking machines accept Mastercard and Visa payments. At least one machine in each car park will accept coins.

The NCA does not currently have the capability to purchase tickets online however, you may pay for parking via the EasyPark app or over the phone by calling 1300 734 070. Please note an additional service fee will apply for payment via the app or phone. 

Ticket transferability

You can move between short stay and long stay parking areas on National Land with the same ticket. However, you cannot use an all-day ticket in a short stay car park.

Tickets purchased or EasyPark sessions started in other pay parking locations, for example in ACT Government or privately operated car parks, are not valid for use on National Land. 

Requesting a Meter Refund

Meter refunds will be supplied in certain circumstances where there is a machine or banking error. Examples include where you have been charged twice for the same period of parking or when the machine has failed to print off a ticket. You will need to apply in writing to the NCA for a refund to be considered. Refunds will not be supplied for lost, stolen, unused (portions of any) tickets, accidentally purchasing additional time or where there has been a change of mind after purchasing the ticket.