Liberal Party pledges $85k for Toowoomba LifeFlight base

A federal MP looking for relection has promised to pay for upgrades to a regional LifeFlight base if it wins government in May.

Groom MP Garth Hamilton has pledged $85,000 to Toowoomba’s LifeFlight base.

Groom MP Garth Hamilton has pledged $85,000 in extra funding for Toowoomba’s LifeFlight base if the Coalition wins government in May.

The money will be spent on the base, which is the busiest in Queensland.

It is home to two helicopters that in 2024 flew a combined 965 missions, helping 891 people.

Their most common call-out was for remote and regional traffic crashes where patients had suffered life-threatening injuries.

“LifeFlight provides critical care services to Queenslanders and is held in high regard around the state,” Mr Hamilton said.

“Toowoomba serves as the base for operations that ensure the medical safety of regional people.

“The last Liberal National Government delivered important upgrades to the LifeFlight facility and that is a legacy I will continue.

The funding promise was welcomed by LifeFlight Darling Downs Regional Advisory Chair Emily O’Sullivan.

“This investment in rural community health service facilities will support the work of our LifeFlight crews around Queensland,” she said.

“It is great to see the recognition of, and investment in, our infrastructure to support rural, regional and remote people and LifeFlight.”

The Toowoomba helicopter’s most recent call-out was for a savage three-vehicle crash on the New England Highway at Dalveen on Thursday.

It is understood one of the vehicles was towing a caravan and rolled several times after the collision.

A woman aged in her 60s suffered serious head, arm and leg injuries and was flown by LifeFlight to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.

Two men also suffered serious head, back and limb injuries.

Originally published as Liberal Party pledges $85k for Toowoomba LifeFlight base