‘FIFO ribbon cutter’: Member for Cook, David Kempton, blasted for chopper ride
An LNP backbencher has refused to reveal how much a flying visit to the Daintree rainforest will cost taxpayers, with a key detail of the trip likely to draw attention from the government’s peak aviation body.
An LNP backbencher has refused to reveal how much a flying visit to the Daintree rainforest will cost taxpayers, with a key detail of the trip likely to draw further attention from Queensland Health.
But the Far North MP has defended his trek north, arguing that air travel is a more “cost effective” means of servicing his sprawling electorate than driving.
Member for Cook, David Kempton, flew in by helicopter to Cow Bay, located about 120km north of Cairns, on Friday morning, joining about 100 residents for a community event to mark the opening of a $14.8m primary health centre.
It’s understood that the R-44 chopper landed on the centre’s new emergency helipad upon arrival before being moved soon after to a nearby paddock.
Hours later, the landing pad was used to whisk away a sick patient in an emergency helicopter.
While there is no penalty imposed by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority for landing on emergency services helipads, it can result in legal action by the helipad’s owner or state and local authorities.
In a statement, Mr Kempton said the decision to fly to the opening, about two hours drive north of Cairns, was financially prudent.
“Cook is an immense electorate of 200,000 square kilometres, meaning that at times, air charter is the only cost-effective means of servicing remote communities,” Mr Kempton said.
“I make no apology for flying to Cow Bay recently to officially open the Cow Bay Primary Health Centre.”
Questions in relation to the cost for a return helicopter ride from Cairns to Cow Bay, which an aviation expert estimated was around $2000, were not answered by Mr Kempton despite multiple requests.
“I have a long association with this community, and it was a privilege to be part of such a wonderful project 28 years in the making,” the MP said.
“The Cow Bay community has been overlooked by Labor for a decade, and I will use any cost-effective transport available to service its people.”
But shadow integrity minister Leeanne Enoch said the chopper trip didn’t pass the pub test.
“David Kempton is the LNP’s FIFO ribbon cutter,” Ms Enoch said.
“He flew into Cow Bay on a helicopter when he could’ve driven two hours up the road, leaving Queenslanders in the dark about why or who paid.
“Kempton has taken a leaf out of (deputy premier) Jarrod Bleijie’s book, who was busted using taxpayer dollars on a helicopter ride to avoid sitting in a car.
“Instead of celebrating the new Cow Bay Primary Health Centre funded and delivered by Labor, we’re questioning a helicopter trip that was as short as David Kempton’s last tenure as MP.”
Mr Kempton and a staffer also used a helicopter on Wednesday while inspecting a bridge near Einasleigh, west of Cairns.
Calls to the Cook MP’s office weren’t immediately returned prior to deadline.
Originally published as ‘FIFO ribbon cutter’: Member for Cook, David Kempton, blasted for chopper ride
