House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-02-20 Daily Xml

Contents

RESCUE HELICOPTERS

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:56): My question is to the Minister for Road Safety. Has the government initiated an investigation into an incident last Friday in which a MAC rescue helicopter almost crashed near Port Pirie, and is the minister satisfied that all of MAC's rescue helicopters are fit for service?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health and Ageing, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for Defence Industries, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (14:57): It was actually my understanding that it was a medevac helicopter that encountered some issues. I think it might have been reported last Friday on one of the TV stations. As I understand it, the matter is being investigated, but as far as helicopters being made available for the health services to do medical evacuations, we have all the helicopters we need.

My advice is that we have the ability to access helicopters from the police if they are needed. The actual provision of the helicopter is done out of the Attorney-General's Department in terms of the helicopter itself. The medical services, of course, are supplied under the auspices of SA Ambulance Service, I understand, but the matter is currently being investigated. In terms of the availability of helicopters to the health services for services to South Australians, I am advised that we have the access to the helicopters that we need.