Member for Cook David Kempton (right) takes part in the opening of the Cow Bay Primary Health Centre on 15 August. Photo: David Kempton Facebook.
Controversy has erupted over the use of a chartered helicopter by Member for Cook and acting Queensland Parliamentary Speaker David Kempton to attend the opening of Cow Bay Primary Health Centre on 15 August.
Mr Kempton and his media adviser chartered the Robinson R44 helicopter to fly from Cairns to Cow Bay to open the centre, stopping en route at Port Douglas to pick up a journalist.
The helicopter landed at the health centre’s emergency helipad to let Mr Kempton and the journalist off, before taking off and landing in a nearby field to wait for the return journey.
The helicopter reportedly experienced an electrical fault and couldn’t make the return journey, forcing Mr Kempton to return to Cairns by road.
Labor member for Cairns Michael Healy accused Mr Kempton of being “out of touch” for using the chartered helicopter to attend an event two hours’ drive from Cairns.
“Who is he meeting with that he needs a chopper to get there, paid for by taxpayers, and why is he keeping it secret from Queenslanders?” Mr Healy wrote in a 21 August post on social media.
“As if that’s not bad enough, David Kempton decided to land his chartered helicopter on the new emergency helipad at Cow Bay Primary Heath Centre – without seeking approval from Queensland Health.”
Mr Kempton returned fire, saying the charter was entirely within the parliamentary rules for travel according to the members’ remuneration handbook.
“I work tirelessly for the people of the Cook, which is an enormous electorate of 200,000 hectares with no public transport and regular public flights only between major centres. Getting around has its challenges,” he said in a statement.
“Helicopters are used extensively to transport frontline workers, health workers, power providers, public servants etc, in their hundreds each year throughout Cape York and Torres Strait.
“As there are no scheduled flights to Cow Bay or an airstrip for conventional aircraft, having considered all factors, I decided to charter a small four-seater helicopter in respect of which the quote for the charter Cairns to Cow Bay and return was $1300.”
Mr Kempton said the helicopter was supposed to land in a sporting field adjacent to the centre.
“Upon arriving at the health centre, the pilot observed a horse and rider on the sports ground where he was scheduled to land,” he said.
“The pilot circled looking for an alternate site, and none being available, took the decision to touch down on the hospital helipad, disembark the passengers and land the helicopter outside the hospital perimeter.”
Mr Kempton said the helicopter was on the landing pad for less than one minute.
“The charter company broke no laws in touching down on the helipad,” he said.
“The total cost of the charter from my travel allowance was $650 as there was no return flight to Cairns.
“I make no apology for the enormous effort I am putting into representing the people of my electorate of Cook and the way I go about the electorate considering the decade of neglect by Labor.”
In a more recent social media post, Mr Healy shifted his focus from Mr Kempton to the helicopter charter company.
“Did the landing on the emergency helipad comply with Civil Aviation Safety Authority regulations and civil aviation law?” he asked.
“Did the charter pilot hold the appropriate licences and endorsements? Was the aircraft airworthy?”
Despite Mr Kempton claiming the charter was within parliamentary rules, the matter has now been referred to an inquiry by Queensland’s Parliamentary Service which provides administrative support to and oversight of the state’s MPs.
“If a member makes their own travel arrangements, they are responsible for verifying the safety records of companies engaged and/or the maintenance of their own aeroplanes,” a Parliamentary services spokesman said in a statement.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) told Region it didn’t comment on investigations into individuals or operators that may or may not be underway.
“It is inappropriate for CASA to comment on individual cases,” a CASA spokesman said in a statement, adding it would publish enforcement actions on its website once an investigation was complete.
“There is no CASA penalty associated with landing on emergency services helipads, provided the operation is conducted safely.
“However, it may result in legal action by the helipad’s owner or by state or local authorities.”
CASA doesn’t regulate the use of helipads nor is it against Australian air safety regulations for a private helicopter to land on a hospital landing pad.
In a statement, Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service (CHHHS) told Region the helipad at Cow Bay Regional Health Centre was for use by emergency aircraft.
“Specifically rescue helicopters, to enable rapid medical evacuations from the remote Daintree community,” CHHHS chief executive Leena Singh said.
“It is crucial for providing timely access to specialised care for critical patients in an area prone to emergencies and limited accessibility.
“We did not receive any requests for a private helicopter landing and the aircraft was parked beyond the Queensland Health facility boundary.”
