Labor MPs confident Cairns police helicopter campaign will take off after hitting early turbulence

Far North Labor MPs are in a $20m tailspin after pledging to lobby for a new helicopter to fight crime despite one having previously argued against similar proposals in 2021.

Queensland government ministers inspect the new POLAIR craft that will operate in Townsville earlier this year. Far North Labor MPs are lobbying for a similar asset to be based in Cairns.

Far North Labor MPs are in a $20m tailspin after pledging to lobby for a new helicopter to fight crime despite one having argued against the idea in 2021.

In a joint op-ed published in the Cairns Post on Monday, MPs Craig Crawford, Michael Healy and Curtis Pitt said a new chopper for Cairns’ police force would help “stop criminals in their tracks” and serve as an “effective deterrent” against delinquent acts, like car thefts.

But following a spate of crime in 2021, Mr Crawford said the asset’s hefty price tag made the purchase hard to justify, given the city already had access to the multi-use Rescue 510 helicopters.

“The fact that we’ve already got a government chopper sitting there that can do everything Polair can do is definitely the best way to go at the moment,” the Member for Barron River said at the time.

“It would be a big waste of money to have a police helicopter in Cairns full time.”

Barron River MP Craig Crawford says a new dedicated police helicopter is now needed to curb crime in Cairns. Image: Brendan Radke

Increased crime and the success of Townsville’s recently purchased “eye in the sky” had led to a change of heart, Mr Crawford said.

“In recent times, police advice changed in Townsville, funding was approved and a police helicopter has been based in the city with great success since last year,” he said.

“It is clearly working in Townsville and our fellow MPs are telling us how effective it is as a police resource to combat crime.

“All of the Labor MPs in Cairns want to see the same downward pressure on crime in the Far North.”

The new POLAIR craft has already made a big impression in Townsville, Member for Barron River, Craig Crawford says.

The backflip showed Labor were more interested in winning elections than solving youth crime, deputy opposition leader Jarrod Bleijie said.

“They should have been fighting for this helicopter years ago,” Mr Bleijie said.

“These Far North Queensland Labor MPs have had nine years to do something about the youth crime crisis.

“The only thing that has changed is that there will be an election in October.”

Since taking to the skies in Townsville late last year, the new asset has helped solve and prevent multiple crimes, as well as assisting with search and rescue operations, Mr Crawford said.

“We are united in our calls to push for a police helicopter to be based in Cairns,” he said.

“Police use the helicopter to track offenders in stolen cars and help intercept and detain them.

“It has been used to find missing persons, lost hikers, and in operations against high priority targets.”

The three Far North MPs met with Police Minister Mark Ryan earlier this week in Brisbane to lobby for the new chopper.

Originally published as Labor MPs confident Cairns police helicopter campaign will take off after hitting early turbulence