The future of the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service is under a cloud after a parliamentary inquiry detailed disturbing allegations of safety failures, bullying, sexism and harassment, placing its $500 million NSW Government contract in doubt.

The findings will be watched particularly closely in Ballina, where the Far North Coast rescue helicopter service first took flight in 1982 before relocating to Lismore the following year. More than four decades later, the community remains one of the service’s strongest supporters through fundraising, volunteering and community donations.

A bipartisan NSW parliamentary committee has recommended the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service – formally known as the Northern NSW Helicopter Rescue Service, which operates the NSW Ambulance contract – should not have its taxpayer-funded agreement extended unless NSW Ambulance is satisfied it provides an ongoing safe workplace.

The recommendation does not affect current rescue operations from the service’s bases at Lismore, Tamworth and Belmont.

However, it places significant pressure on the organisation ahead of the expiry of its 10-year contract in May 2027. The contract, reportedly worth about $500 million, includes an option for a further five years that NSW Ambulance has not yet exercised.

The committee said it had received public and confidential allegations involving safety records, training compliance, workplace bullying and harassment, and the treatment of employees who raised concerns.

“The allegations heard regarding the Northern NSW Rescue Helicopter Service were disturbing, detailing serious non-compliance with safety standards and wilful disregard for safety breaches alongside systemic sexism, bullying and harassment,” the inquiry found.

“In an already high-risk, high-consequence healthcare environment, such failures are inexcusable.”

The allegations have not been established by a court or regulator, and the committee acknowledged some evidence had not been fully tested with all affected parties.

Former employees alleged some training qualifications were issued retrospectively, records were backdated and some assessments were conducted using what the report described as a “tick and flick” approach.

The inquiry also heard allegations of psychological abuse, bullying and highly inappropriate sexualised behaviour in the workplace.

A Seven News report said the committee had heard multiple accounts from former staff alleging deficiencies in safety and workplace culture, as well as concerns about the independence of the investigation examining those claims.

The committee also found employees had little faith in the independence of an internal review commissioned by the rescue helicopter service and conducted by law firm King & Wood Mallesons.

NSW Ambulance has demanded an unredacted copy of that report before making a decision on the contract.

The helicopter lands in Ballina this year to help fly a victim of crime to the Gold Coast for emergency treatment.

Health Minister Ryan Park said the government and the wider community expected complete transparency.

“Again, I want to make it clear to that service, we expect an unredacted report,” Mr Park said following the release of the inquiry’s findings.

“I think more importantly than NSW Ambulance expects it, the community expect and deserves it.”

Decision for the next government

The final decision on whether the contract is extended will fall to the government elected at the NSW election in March, with the current agreement due to expire in May 2027.

However, the inquiry suggests the issue is unlikely to divide along party lines.

Labor Health Minister Ryan Park has insisted NSW Ambulance receive an unredacted copy of the internal review before any decision is made, while Coalition committee member and Shadow Health Minister Sarah Mitchell said the inquiry was about ensuring the government could have confidence the service remained safe and accountable.

“We know that this service is really important for our community, and nobody’s questioning that,” Ms Mitchell said.

“This is just about making sure that the government has the confidence to know that this can continue to serve the community.”

NSW Ambulance has indicated an alternative provider would need to be selected and operating about six months before the present contract ends if the extension is rejected.

Westpac is the service’s naming-rights sponsor. Under the NSW Ambulance contract, the rescue helicopter service supplies the aircraft, pilots, aircrew, engineers and ground support, while NSW Ambulance and local health districts provide the critical-care paramedics and doctors.

The service has previously said the allegations were deeply concerning and that it would not tolerate harassment, bullying, discrimination or inappropriate behaviour.

It has also pointed to a Civil Aviation Safety Authority surveillance audit conducted in July 2025, which reportedly recorded no safety alerts or findings involving its air operations, although three opportunities for improvement were identified.

In a statement following the committee’s report, the service said it was carefully considering the findings.

“Our focus remains on maintaining the highest standards of safety and patient care and supporting our people,” a spokesperson said.

Ballina’s support remains unwavering

Fundraiser: the Helicopter Op Shop in Martin street.

Ballina’s connection with the rescue helicopter did not end when the service relocated to Lismore.

The community has continued to support the organisation through generations of fundraising and volunteering.

The North Coast Show and Shine has become one of the region’s biggest annual fundraisers for the service, attracting thousands of people and hundreds of vehicles to Ballina Racecourse.

This year’s event raised $40,000, while the subsequent auction of a restored Holden Commodore built by TAFE NSW Wollongbar apprentices delivered a further $42,816.

Together, the two initiatives contributed more than $82,000 to the rescue helicopter in 2026 alone.

Support also comes year-round through the Rescue Helicopter Op Shop in Martin Street, where volunteers donate thousands of hours to raise money for the organisation’s lifesaving work.

Wollongbar TAFE teachers and students with the classic Holden Commodore they restored and donated to raise funds for the Westpac Helicopter this year.

With the contract decision likely to be one of the first major health procurement decisions facing the next NSW Government, both Labor and the Coalition appear united on one point: the rescue helicopter’s lifesaving work must continue, but the organisation entrusted with delivering it will have to satisfy the highest standards of safety, governance and workplace culture.