The Nationals WA have condemned the State Government for once again ignoring expert advice to base an emergency rescue helicopter in the Mid-West, while pouring $26.7 million into new aircraft for Perth and the South West.
Leader and Member for Mid-West, Shane Love MLA, said the latest investment would do nothing for communities north of Perth where access to emergency services is already stretched.
“By concentrating every rescue helicopter in Perth and Bunbury, the State Government is denying thousands of Mid-West residents access to a life-saving services,” Mr Love said.
“This is despite repeated warnings from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services, the State Coroner, and the Chief Health Officer that our rescue helicopter fleet must expand into the regions.”
Mr Love said the Chief Health Officer’s landmark 2022 Inquiry into WA’s aeromedical services – which called for urgent expansion – had been “virtually discarded” by the Cook Labor Government.
“It’s diabolical that a government boasting multi-billion-dollar surpluses continues to ignore its own experts and the communities of the Mid-West on such as critical issue.
“Meanwhile, they continue to push forward with a $217 million racetrack and a billion-dollar redevelopment of the Perth Convention Centre while delivering substandard regional healthcare.”
Member for Geraldton Kirrilee Warr MLA said the decision showed regional lives were not valued equally under WA Labor.
“Unless you live in Perth or the South West, you are simply not a priority for this Government,” she said.
“Geraldton is one of the busiest regions for the Royal Flying Doctor Service and St John Ambulance, yet we are left without a rescue helicopter that could save lives on our roads, at sea, and in remote areas.”
Ms Warr said the Government had already broken its promise to establish a RFDS base in Geraldton, and its refusal to back a Mid-West rescue helicopter was “further proof” of its disregard for regional health.
“In an emergency, every second counts. Right now, people in the Mid-West are forced to wait, and that wait could cost lives.”
Shadow Minister for Emergency Services, Hon Rob Horstman MLC, said that every West Australian deserved equitable access to life-saving services.
“The Inquiry into Aeromedical Services was clear, doubling our rescue helicopter fleet is the priority, yet two years on communities in the Mid West and northern WA remain dangerously exposed.”
“Emergency response can’t be a postcode lottery. The Government talks about modernising our fleet yet ignores the glaring gap in the Mid West,” Mr Horstman said.