Tas Westpac Rescue Heli no longer ‘able’ to accept donations

[headwerkn]

Another one to file under ‘dumb stuff the Government has announced this weekend’…

https://www.westpacrescuetas.com.au/abo ... -donations

“Following the decision of the Tasmanian Government to end our licence to accept sponsorship and community funding to support the State’s helicopter rescue service, the Tasmanian Air Rescue Trust (trading as Westpac Helicopter Rescue Tasmania) will cease accepting donations, effective immediately.“

Properly confused by this one. We’ve made a monthly donation to the Service for several years now and done other fundraising on their behalf. Best insurance policy ever as bushwalkers, obviously. I’m very curious as to what piece of obscure political whatevering is responsible for this.

[philm]

This is crazy? Really sorry state of affairs.

[north-north-west]

WTAF? That makes no sense whatsoever. It's not like they ignore people who don't donate or give special attention to those who do. Just utterly ridiculous.

[Letstryagain]

Will they be charging the cost to people who need to be rescued like they do in other states?

[taswegian]

What a ridiculously nonsensical decision.
Who thought that up!
Interestingly politicians can still receive and accept donations!

How does that equate to the $15 charge to go a few km on a tourist bus ride at Cradle?
I can go for a walk decide I'm too tired and ask for an armchair flight out!

[Aardvark]

I can go for a walk decide I'm too tired and ask for an armchair flight out!

Might be standing room only

[headwerkn]

Interestingly politicians can still receive and accept donations!

A case of the right ruling being applied to the wrong situation

[myrtlegirl]

I thought I saw a news story (ABC?) about this, and the reason given was that the organisation was returning around 31.5c in the $ to the actual functions of the organisation. The other 68.5%, I guess, was 'admin', salaries, etc. The govt said 31.5% had fallen below an acceptable threshold.

There's been a focus for some time on charities and the % they spend on admin vs actual services. A very notable (but very old) example being the Miss Tasmania Quest spending 98% on everything but the disabled kids they were raising money for.

There's a massive big disclaimer on this info - I can't find the news story again.

[headwerkn]

I thought I saw a news story (ABC?) about this, and the reason given was that the organisation was returning around 31.5c in the $ to the actual functions of the organisation. The other 68.5%, I guess, was 'admin', salaries, etc. The govt said 31.5% had fallen below an acceptable threshold.

Interesting. As per the above link:

"It is important to note that our charitable body consists of just one part-time employee and a volunteer board of directors who serve freely. Administration costs are kept to a minimum and these are funded in full by Westpac."

I'm figuring "charitable body" represents only one part of the overall organisation's structure, but still. As an 24hr on-standby organisation that consists mostly of specialist trained medical staff and big helicopters, their fixed costs aren't exactly low. Then again, the $5M-$6M a year the whole thing costs to run is arguably the best value service delivered to the Tasmanian community... not just bushwalkers, but everyone... the Rescue Heli gets numerous vehicle accident callouts per year for example.

We have made a series of representations to the Tasmanian Government over the past year, seeking a reversal of its decision to not renew our sponsorship licence. This included pointing out to the Government that it was relying on erroneous and misleading figures in relation to the Trust’s actual contributions to the service and we provided the correct information.

Something really odd is going on here. Things aren't adding up.

[north-north-west]

Then again, the $5M-$6M a year the whole thing costs to run is arguably the best value service delivered to the Tasmanian community... not just bushwalkers, but everyone... the Rescue Heli gets numerous vehicle accident callouts per year for example.

Pretty sure I've read somewhere that they deal with more vehicle accidents than bushwalkers.

Something really odd is going on here. Things aren't adding up.

At the risk of getting political, tell me when things last did with this mob.

[Biggles]

There will be a casualty.

The inequity is glaring. Tassie's government though seem to have no qualms chipping in a fair bit (c. $375 million) of the $700 million for an AFL stadium, leaving the majority of Tasmanian's aghast at the extravagance.

That $3m+ of money could go to better causes. And it is a long list. An improved and responsive public transport system in Hobart, better traffic management and provision for looking after Tasmania's sizeable cohort of homeless. Is that too much to ask?

[headwerkn]

Pretty sure I've read somewhere that they deal with more vehicle accidents than bushwalkers.

Absolutely, something the average Joe on the street doesn't seem to understand. The bushwalker rescues get the media and resultant armchair-expert finger-wagging, meanwhile they're transporting seriously sick people to RHH from all ends of the state on a near-daily basis. My first dealings with the Rescue Heli was with a motorcycle accident I was first-on-scene to. They also transported my father-in-law off Bruny Island many years ago.

Strongly recommend everyone send Jeremy a quick message (https://www.premier.tas.gov.au/contact_your_premier) with a "Please explain?". A quick message to the ABC and Examiner/Advocate/Mercury so they pick up the story wouldn't hurt either.

[Nereus]

WTAF? That makes no sense whatsoever. It's not like they ignore people who don't donate or give special attention to those who do. Just utterly ridiculous.

Alas, from what I can see on the public record, it does make sense. The Trust raised about $85k in donations in 2021 but spent at least $140k in doing so. So a good part of the Westpac sponsorship of $350k ended up in admin and overheads, not in helicopters. The community will be better off if Westpac simply cuts its cheque and hands it to the Government. That assumes - as I understand it - that the Govt continues to support the Helicopter rescue service with funds from its budget - and it provides most of the money - $10m in 2023-24 (which also covers some other things.)

[TentPeg]

No mention so far of what was going on in 2021. How do you raise funds in a pandemic? Pretty easy to search the interwebs for a response that explains the percentages.