ABC News (AU)
· collected 2026-09-17 · by Liam McNally and Liam O'Connell
The Queensland state government is planning to consolidate two community-funded helicopter rescue services—CQ Rescue in Mackay and Capricorn Rescue in Rockhampton—into a single provider through an upcoming tender process. Both services, which collectively cover about 485,000 people and performed over 1,400 missions last year, were established by local communities to provide emergency medical care and support. The government aims to achieve cost savings while maintaining service quality, with a tender expected to be released in the coming months. Local stakeholders like Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson advocate for retaining local control despite potential national operators entering the competition.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-18,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Rescue helicopter services in central Queensland face an uncertain future as the state government seeks a single provider to cover both Mackay and Rockhampton, which currently have separate community-funded operations: CQ Rescue and Capricorn Rescue. These services, established through donations and fundraising events, provide emergency care to approximately 485,000 people. In 2024–2025, Rockhampton's service completed 633 missions while Mackay reported 788 flights in the same period. The combined operating costs for both services exceeded $40 million in 2025, with about $25 million coming from the Queensland government. A tender will be released in the coming months to achieve "value for money" and ensure fair competition. Mirani MP Glen Kelly emphasized the crucial role of these services, stating that without them, emergency response in rural areas would suffer significantly.
Written for “Queensland Rescue Services Tender” on 2026-09-18,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 17132 · logged 2026-09-18
In short:
The state government is seeking to have only one helicopter rescue service covering Rockhampton and Mackay.
asserted
service → seek → Rockhampton
A Queensland Health pre-release tender notice says it is looking for "value for money" for hospital transfers, search and rescue, and law enforcement.
asserted
it → say → transfers
A tender will be released in the coming months.
Rescue helicopter services in central Queensland face an uncertain future as the state government seeks a single provider in Mackay and Rockhampton.
The community-funded CQ Rescue in Mackay and Capricorn Rescue in Rockhampton provide emergency care to a combined population of about 485,000.
asserted
Rescue → release → 485,000
Both services were founded by their communities through donations, sponsorships, and fundraising events, along with state government contributions.
asserted
services → found → contributions
The Rockhampton service flew 633 missions in 2024–25 with Mackay reporting 788 flights in the 2025 calendar year.
asserted
Mackay → fly → year
According to a pre-tender document, the government was now seeking a single operator to provide emergency helicopter services for the entire central Queensland region.
uncertain
government → accord → region
The document noted the goal of the tender was "achieving value for Queensland and taxpayers' money and ensuring fair and open competition".
asserted
goal → note → competition
The successful group would be expected to provide aeromedical patient transport, search-and-rescue services and support law enforcement and other government agencies as required.
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group → expect → enforcement
Queensland Health and Ambulance Service declined to comment.
asserted
Service → decline → ?
'A local drive'
Both services took their first flights 30 years ago.
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services → take → flights
CQ Rescue director and Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson said moves to start a rescue helicopter began in 1992 after a run of road crashes.
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moves → say → crashes
"A couple of Mackay doctors recognised the fact that we really needed to have a helicopter rescue service," Cr Williamson said.
"
asserted
Williamson → recognise → service
Those two guys persuaded us to gather all of the community leaders … it was really just a local drive.
asserted
it → persuade → leaders
Cr Williamson said he supported a single contract but wanted the rescue services to remain locally controlled.
asserted
services → say → contract
"Both Rockhampton and Mackay, we want to keep it local, and we're prepared to work with each other to do that," he said.
"
asserted
he → want → that
I would hate to see some large organisation, national or otherwise, come in and take it over."
asserted
organisation → hate → it
The combined operating costs for both services was more than $40 million in 2025, of which about $25 million came from the Queensland government.
'A god from the skies'
Mirani MP Glen Kelly said there was no risk of the helicopter rescue service being wound down.
"Without it, the bush would be buggered, because that's our ambulance," he said.
asserted
he → come → it
Whitsundays mother Tess Salmond credits CQ Rescue and Proserpine Hospital staff for saving the life of her seven-year-old son, Peter, last April.
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mother → credit → son
He was flown to the Townsville University Hospital's paediatric intensive care unit when a viral infection affected his breathing.
asserted
infection → fly → breathing
"It all escalated very, very fast, as often these things do unfold," Dr Salmond said.
"
asserted
Salmond → escalate → ?
"Proserpine to Townsville in under 45 minutes for a child that can't breathe felt like a lifetime, but I was just so incredibly grateful that was available to us."
asserted
that → breathe → us
The Aporia