He made the funding announcement with LifeFlight committee chairman Tony McGrady at the Royal Flying Doctor Service airport base in Mount Isa on Wednesday. 

“Now this is life saving work,” the Minister said.

“Work that ensures that we’re providing emergency response when people need it, and work that will go a great way in keeping the region additionally safe,” Mr Ryan said. 

Mr Ryan said the money for the service is in addition to the $1.2 million already given by the State Government in the 2015-16 financial year, which had been aimed to support the LifeFlight Mount Isa base until this February. 

The Mount Isa LifeFlight has flown 37 missions since it took over the service on July 1, 2015, the Minister said.

These missions involved horse falls, snake bites, car accidents, and cardiac conditions. 

The committee’s chair Tony McGrady described the extra funding as “manna from heaven”  considering it was in addition to the vast community support; including from all mayors from Mount Isa to Hughenden, the Royal Flying Doctor Service, emergency services and Glencore. 

“What it means to us is that once again, the Queensland Government recognises the need of this service,” Mr McGrady said. 

“This service provides a guarantee that we can in most cases provide urgent transport to the hospital for those people that work in the cattle and sheep stations, those people that live and work in mining and camps, and just as important the hundreds of thousands of tourists who are coming through.” 

Mount Isa State MP Rob Katter,praised the funding by saying that it was “great comfort for the community”.

“It is vital to preserve these services and I will continue ensuring that there is always government commitment.”

“LifeFlight provides important helicopter rescue and medical retrieval services to the remote regions of the North West.

“It is imperative that the North West has a well-funded rescue helicopter to serve and protect the region.”