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Tasmanian helicopter company Rotor-Lift Aviation has hit back against the “devastating” decision to pull its state aeromedical contract, saying it will likely destroy the business and put lives at risk.
Rotor-Lift, which has operated the Westpac rescue and Ambulance Tasmania helicopters in the state for around 25 years, said it was blindsided by the Tasmanian government’s decision to award a $354 million, 12-year contract to interstate operator StarFlight.
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According to Rotor-Lift Aviation managing director Allana Corbin, there had been no consultation with the firm beforehand.
“This is a devastating day that will spell the end of Rotor-Lift, put 37 Tasmanian jobs at risk, increase uncertainty for a core service and put the budget under unnecessary pressure,” she said.
“We are a family here, and come the middle of January, we will cease to exist. All that intensive training and experience Rotor-Lift has invested in is basically being picked up and handed to somebody else, and that’s pretty hard to take.”
According to Corbin, the contract expiration in January will coincide with peak bushfire and tourism season, and there is “no understanding of timelines, how they’re going to transition the new service provider, bring in and train up the staff they need, and establish critical infrastructure”.
“Tasmania’s unique topography and weather conditions make it a highly volatile environment to operate in, which takes time and experience to master,” she said.
“This is a highly complex service with highly trained and skilled workforce who know Tasmanian conditions like the backs of their hands. This experience cannot simply be replaced by pilots from interstate. No-one knows the Tasmanian skies or the Tasmanian wilderness like Rotorlift does.
“We have flown 14,000 missions for Ambulance Tasmania and Tasmania Police. Every time a Tasmanian sees the Westpac helicopter, that’s our pilot and flight crew making sure it gets everyone there and back safely.
“We have helped rescue thousands of people. We have never turned our back on a Tasmanian in need.”
She also disputes the Tasmanian Department of Health’s assertion that StarFlight represents “the best value for money for Tasmania over the lifetime of the contract”, saying Rotor-Lift had presented the government with a cheaper option.
“Rotor-Lift could have continued operations for $200 million over 12 years – $150 million less than the awarded contract,” she said.
“It is totally misleading for the Government to claim that this service is cheaper when we can deliver the existing service, which has had no complaints over more than two decades.”
Dale Webster, secretary at the Tasmanian Department of Health, told The Mercury that StarFlight would offer a new fleet and new technology to the state.
“This new contract with StarFlight lifts our capability, it brings in new technology, it brings in additional capability, including winching of stretches from the ground, but things like that we haven’t been able to do in current helicopters over the last period of time,” he said.
“I want to thank Rotor-Lift for the last 25 years of service, it’s been a fantastic contract for us to have, but this lifts our technology, lifts our capability and takes us forward in a very special way.
“We believe that we’ve come up with a contract that is value for money for Tasmanians, returns social and economic benefit to Tasmanians, and, importantly, lifts the capability of our fleet to do the job for our Tasmanians.”
Rotor-Lift also provides services including aerial mapping and surveying, helicopter tours, and flight training courses.
