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THE North Queensland Rescue Helicopter Service has been snubbed from $300 million in state government funding allocated to other helicopter rescue services.
A 10-year contract with helicopter rescue services including RACQ CareFlight Queensland will be used to buy more aircraft.
North Queensland Rescue Helicopter Service chief executive Alex Dorr was not surprised his service missed out on funding.
“We certainly knew we were not going to be a part of it,” he said.
Funding winners like RACQ CareFlight Queensland had been negotiating with the state government for about two years, Mr Dorr said.
North Queensland’s service was not part of the negotiations and is still not government funded.
The government uses the service but pays a fee each time.
Mr Dorr said the payments did not cover the service’s annual operating costs of $1.5 million.
He could not explain why the government was not funding the service. He said their reasons seemed to change weekly.
In July Emergency Services Minister Jack Dempsey told The North West Star paying the service on a needs basis was based on information provided by Queensland Health.
“From our aspect, what we’re doing is getting the best value for the tax-paying dollars in Mount Isa,” Mr Dempsey said.
He said Mount Isa also had the Royal Flying Doctor
Service.
On Sunday, Mr Dempsey and Premier Campbell Newman released a statement outlining the positives that funding would bring to Queensland.
“It means young children requiring emergency medical transfers and boaties requiring assistance on our waterways can have peace of mind that help is available,” Mr Newman said.
“To further enhance these vital services, the LNP will be increasing funding by $3 million in the first year to go toward upgrades of helicopters and bases.”
Mr Dempsey criticised the former Labor government for not investing enough in emergency services.
“Our commitment to helicopter services means that whether you require help on Horn Island or in the Gold Coast hinterland, we are there to assist.”
