The Rockliff Government must outline how it intends to support the operations of the Westpac Rescue Helicopter after withdrawing the service’s license to fundraise from January next year.
The Westpac Rescue Helicopter estimates it has raised about $10 million to support the service since it was established in 2000 through community and corporate sponsorship.
Now, this breathtakingly bad decision will see Tasmanian taxpayers forced to pick up the tab while the state faces crises in health, housing and cost-of-living.
This service plays an integral part in our emergency management and requires highly skilled paramedics and personnel who are equipped to assist in medical emergencies and rescues.
The government should be grabbing every opportunity it has to work alongside community and commercial sponsors to ensure it continues to be operational.
Rather than accepting a helping hand, this decision will place the Department of Health and Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management under further pressure, especially since these departments have been asked to make $300 million in expenditure cuts.
Without the ability to raise funds, the Rockliff Government must outline how it intends to ensure the ongoing operation of the Westpac Rescue Helicopter without driving the state past its ever- ballooning $5.6 billion debt.
Luke Edmunds MLC
Member for Pembroke
