Following a devastating weekend that claimed seven lives on Western Australian roads, Leader
of The Nationals WA Shane Love MLA has called on the Cook Labor Government to
immediately bring the third rescue helicopter online.
Mr Love said it was unacceptable for the rescue helicopter to remain in storage when it could
be put to work immediately to help save lives on WA roads.
“Right now we have an amazing, potentially life-saving asset that is sitting in a hangar in
Jandakot and only used just 10 per cent of the year when the other rescue helicopters require
maintenance,” Mr Love said.
“This helicopter is a vital resource that could be saving lives today, yet it sits idle due to
government inaction. This helicopter could be deployed today to the Midwest or Goldfields or
activated as an additional rescue resource for Perth and the South West.
Mr Love said the need for an additional rescue helicopter now far outstripped the need for a
new police jet, which would not come online until mid-2026.
“We don’t need a FIFO police force in 2026 – we need an enhanced rescue helicopter fleet and
it beggars belief the Government would rather let it sit idle than put it to use.
“While an additional rescue helicopter won’t prevent road accidents, it will go a long way to
improving outcomesfor those impacted by road trauma, particularly in our regional areas.”
Mr Love also paid condolences to those who had lost their lives on WA roads this year.
“Every one of the 173 fatalities this year represents a grieving family, a community in shock,
and lives forever changed. This includes our first responders, often volunteers, who attend
these tragic and traumatic events,” Mr Love said.
“Road safety is a complex issue requiring increased police presence, the implementation of
road safety treatments, enhanced education and changes to driver behaviour.”
“It also requires a bipartisan approach – something this Government is unwilling to accept, as
demonstrated when they locked the Opposition out of their road safety summit.”
Shadow Road Safety Minister Martin Aldridge said the current road safety crisis underscores
the desperate need for The Nationals WA’s $45 million commitment to purchase and operate a
new rescue helicopter based in Geraldton to serve the Midwest region.
“The Chief Health Officer’s aeromedical inquiry confirmed the urgent need for an additional
rescue helicopter as a priority,yet more than two years after this critical report was tabled, the
Government has taken no action” Mr Aldridge said.
“The Mid West region sees over 1,800 crashes and 46 fatalities every four years, and there are
nearly 3,000 Priority 1 ambulance cases within 400 kilometres of Geraldton annually. The need
for a rescue helicopter isclear, yet the Cook Labor Government continues to ignore it.”
Shane Love said The Nationals are the only party demonstrating a genuine commitment to
addressing the road safety crisis.
“The Nationals have also committed $276 million to deliver our Safer Local Roads program,
which will deliver improvements across over 400 local government roads, totalling over 8,000
kilometres, to help make our roads safer and save lives,” Mr Love said.
