Mr ADAMSON - 1995-05-23
I have been advised that, following an aviation accident near Mt Conner involving an Alice Springs couple, a rescue helicopter was dispatched from Tindal near Katherine rather than from nearby Yulara. Is this the case and was there any cost to the Northern Territory taxpayer?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I think this is an appropriate question. It is a question that I would have expected others to ask. Be that as it may ...
Mr Bell: That is right. I wrote to you about it.
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The minister has the floor!
Mr MANZIE: I have not received a letter from anybody. However, a couple of weeks ago, the member for MacDonnell wrote a letter to Hon Marshall Perron as the Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services. He did not write to me. That shows just how far he is behind the times. It is a good example as to why he holds the dubious distinction of being the most experienced opposition member in any parliament in Australia today.
This helicopter attended an incident where 2 people, members of the St Clair family, had been injured in a helicopter accident. No suitable helicopter was available at Yulara, and the federal Civil Aviation Authority controlled and directed the search and the rescue. As a result, it met all costs. On the night in question, a suitable aircraft was based at Yulara, but no pilot who was properly qualified for night operations was available. While the matter of a qualified ...
Mr Bell: Are you sure about that?
Page 576
Mr MANZIE: My advice is from the Civil Aviation Authority, and it advises ...
Mr Bell: It never makes a mistake?
Mr MANZIE: It is a matter for the authority. It is not something that is under the Territory's control. The CAA decided to select the S76 on the basis that no appropriately-qualified pilot was available at the time to undertake that particular rescue operation at night.
The CAA paid in full for the cost of the aircraft and for accommodation etc. The outcome was that the injured people were serviced very quickly, efficiently and effectively. Even though they suffered permanent injury, they received very good medical treatment at a very early opportunity.
In closing, I must say that it would serve the member for MacDonnell well to keep up to date with who is doing what. Twelve months is sufficient time even for him to know what is happening.
Page 577
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I think this is an appropriate question. It is a question that I would have expected others to ask. Be that as it may ...
Mr Bell: That is right. I wrote to you about it.
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The minister has the floor!
Mr MANZIE: I have not received a letter from anybody. However, a couple of weeks ago, the member for MacDonnell wrote a letter to Hon Marshall Perron as the Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services. He did not write to me. That shows just how far he is behind the times. It is a good example as to why he holds the dubious distinction of being the most experienced opposition member in any parliament in Australia today.
This helicopter attended an incident where 2 people, members of the St Clair family, had been injured in a helicopter accident. No suitable helicopter was available at Yulara, and the federal Civil Aviation Authority controlled and directed the search and the rescue. As a result, it met all costs. On the night in question, a suitable aircraft was based at Yulara, but no pilot who was properly qualified for night operations was available. While the matter of a qualified ...
Mr Bell: Are you sure about that?
Page 576
Mr MANZIE: My advice is from the Civil Aviation Authority, and it advises ...
Mr Bell: It never makes a mistake?
Mr MANZIE: It is a matter for the authority. It is not something that is under the Territory's control. The CAA decided to select the S76 on the basis that no appropriately-qualified pilot was available at the time to undertake that particular rescue operation at night.
The CAA paid in full for the cost of the aircraft and for accommodation etc. The outcome was that the injured people were serviced very quickly, efficiently and effectively. Even though they suffered permanent injury, they received very good medical treatment at a very early opportunity.
In closing, I must say that it would serve the member for MacDonnell well to keep up to date with who is doing what. Twelve months is sufficient time even for him to know what is happening.
Page 577
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016