‘Diabolical’: Nationals claim latest rescue chopper rollout will leave the Mid West grounded and vulnerable

The State Government has defended its decision not to base one of three new next-generation rescue helicopters in the Mid West, a move the Opposition has labelled “diabolical”. This week, Emergency Services Minister Paul Papalia launched three new choppers to bolster WA’s emergency RAC Rescue response to be based in Perth and Bunbury, featuring advanced search and rescue technology and state-of-the-art aeromedical equipment. The AW139 can cover 91 per cent of WA’s population without refuelling, carry up to 10 rescued passengers, or two stretchered patients with full ICU care and will operate 24/7 from their Jandakot and Bunbury bases. “The new fleet ... will provide an even greater service to West Australians with the ability to fly as far south as Albany and as far north as Dongara and back,” Mr Papalia said. But Nationals argue for the remaining 9 per cent of the State, it could mean the difference between life and death, warning the decision to base the $26.7 million rollout of new helicopters at Jandakot and Bunbury will cost lives and leaves Mid West residents without equal access to the life-saving service. With a top speed of 309km/h, the new Leonardo AW139 helicopters are 40 per cent faster than the older Bell 412EP choppers, in service since 2003. Member for Mid-West and WA Nationals leader Shane Love said the decision to base the upgraded helicopters in the metro area and South West ignored years of expert advice calling for a dedicated rescue helicopter in the Mid West region. “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 a critical issue,” he said. In 2022 the Chief Health Officer’s Inquiry into Aeromedical Services in WA called for an urgent expansion of the rescue helicopter fleet into the Mid West. The Opposition said the expansion need was also backed by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services and the State Coroner. More than 1000 people signed a petition calling for a locally-based rescue chopper, which was tabled in Parliament in 2023. Geraldton MLA Kirrilee Warr cited Labor’s broken promise to establish a RFDS base in Geraldton and now its refusal to back a Mid West rescue helicopter as “further proof” of its disregard for regional health. “Unless you live in Perth or the South West, you are simply not a priority for this Government,” she said. “In an emergency, every second counts. Right now, people in the Mid West are forced to wait, and that wait could cost lives.” In response to the Opposition’s claims, Mr Papalia said the rescue choppers could be positioned closer to regional centres during peak periods, with fuel caches located around the State that DFES can utilise. “We let operational demand drive decisions about the aircraft, not politicians who think they know better than our emergency services,” he said.