Coalition, Albanese Government promise $10 million aircraft to CareFlight if elected

The Coalition and Federal Labor have both promised Territorians a $10.1 million aircraft intended to support vulnerable patients across the Top End.

Solomon MP Luke Gosling and his Labor colleagues have announced CareFlight NT will inherit a King Air B250 if the Albanese Government is re-elected. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Regardless of which party wins the 2025 Federal Election, vital service CareFlight NT is set for a major boost with both the Coalition and Labor pledging funds.

On Saturday afternoon, Opposition leader Peter Dutton visited the CareFlight NT hangar at Darwin Airport to commit funding of $10 million to support CareFlight acquire an additional King Air B250 fixed wing aircraft.

Mr Dutton said the announcement highlighted the Coalition’s commitment to delivering quality healthcare and practical action for Australians in regional and remote communities, including Indigenous Australians.

“This commitment is outcomes-based and will ensure the life-saving healthcare already provided by CareFlight can continue to keep up with demand, especially for the many Indigenous Australians who live in remote areas,” Mr Dutton said.

Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton visits CareFlight NT at Darwin airport to discuss the important work they do to provide health care for the NT on the campaign trail for the 2025 federal election. Picture: NewsWire / Thomas Lisson

Country Liberal Party candidate for Solomon, Lisa Bayliss, said the aircraft could operate in weather conditions that were unique to the Top End such as monsoon season and poor visibility.

“That means they are critical for servicing regional areas and remote communities in the Northern Territory,” she said.

On Friday, the Albanese Government also announced it would deliver the required funding if re-elected.

The announcement comes after a string of healthcare commitments made by federal Labor, including boosting funding to NT public hospitals by 30 per cent and opening another Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Darwin.

The latest promise to deliver a new airframe is reminiscent of Labor’s 2022 commitment to the aeromedical service, which led to $20 million being pumped towards a second rescue helicopter and jet.

CareFlight chief executive Mick Frewen (pictured) has welcomed the announcement. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

CareFlight chief executive Mick Frewen said his team was “thankful” to hear another election promise had been made to the aeromedical service.

“Operating from CareFlight’s Darwin base, this “hospital in the sky” will be used to deploy our specialist medical teams to patients in remote communities right across the expanse of the Top End,” he said.

“It will ensure patients have access to vital healthcare services and it will save lives.”

Mr Frewen said the announcement underscored the need to “ensure all communities” received access to proper care.

“Over the many years of our operations in the Top End, CareFlight have had great bipartisan support at the Federal Government level,” he said.

“This funding announcement of an additional aircraft will make a positive difference to health outcomes for remote First Nations communities, which represent the vast majority of patients in the region.”

Mr Gosling maintains CareFlight’s fleet will “grow” under the Albanese Government. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Solomon MP Luke Gosling maintained the government would expand CareFlight’s fleet, like “the last election”.

“We promised to grow the CareFlight fleet and we delivered,” he said.

“A re-elected Albanese Labor Government will grow the CareFlight fleet again, with an additional King Air B250 fixed-wing aircraft.”

In 2024, CareFlight delivered care to more than 7000 patients in the Territory, with nine in 10 patients Indigenous.

NT Senator Malarndirri McCarthy (pictured) and Lingiari MP Marion Scrymgour say the extra asset will support vulnerable Territorians. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Lingiari MP Marion Scrymgour said an additional plane would value-add to the region.

“In the NT most people who have a health emergency can be saved, but distance and time are often their biggest enemy,” she said.

“The other factors are terrain and whether there is a queue for services.”

Senator Malarndirri McCarthy echoed her colleague’s sentiments.

“I’ve been travelling across the Top End and have heard from communities a deep appreciation for the important work of CareFlight,” she said.

“Their patient care covers a vast area of the NT and with this investment they can continue their life saving work.”

Originally published as Coalition, Albanese Government promise $10 million aircraft to CareFlight if elected