Newsroom
Government Inaction on Innisfail Helipad Putting Lives at Risk
March 19, 2026
Member for Hill, Shane Knuth, has slammed the Queensland Government on its latest response to a Question in parliament on reinstating the Innisfail Hospital helipad.
Mr Knuth said the issue has dragged on for years, forcing critically ill patients to be transported more than 6 kilometres from the Innisfail Aerodrome to the hospital.
“I have lobbied both the former and current governments relentlessly, yet we continue to be stonewalled while lives are put at risk,” Mr Knuth said.
“Instead of fixing the problem, the Government continues to hide behind feasibility studies, reports and bureaucratic excuses.
The money spent on these independent commissions and feasibility studies could have been used to fund the Hospital helipad and whatever infrastructure is required to make it 100% safe.”
Mr Knuth said the situation is made worse during severe weather events, where flooding and road closures can significantly delay transfers.
Cassowary Coast Regional Council Mayor Teresa Millwood said the situation was unacceptable and dangerous.
“The closure of Innisfail Hospital’s helipad means that patients must complete a 6.4 kilometre transfer from the Innisfail Aerodrome to the Innisfail Hospital.
This can be the difference between life and death.
Innisfail and the Cassowary Coast community are just as deserving as the residents of Cairns, Townsville and the southeast to receive critical, timely medical care.
I urge the Queensland Government to urgently expedite upgrades to Innisfail Hospital’s infrastructure to make it possible for the helipad to reopen as soon as possible.”
Mr Knuth said local health stakeholders, including the Innisfail Local Ambulance Committee (LAC), have repeatedly raised serious concerns about the impact on response times and ambulance capacity.
“The Local Ambulance Committee has made it crystal clear.
When crews are tied up doing transfers to the airport, it leaves surrounding communities exposed, with response times blowing out across one-man stations from South Johnstone to Babinda,” Mr Knuth said.
“This is not an imagined problem, this is happening right now and it’s putting lives at risk.”
Mr Knuth said the Government’s handling of the issue highlights a broader pattern of neglect towards regional Queensland.
“If this was happening in Brisbane or the southeast corner, it would have been fixed overnight. But in regional Queensland, we get another survey, another feasibility study, another excuse.”
“This is exactly what we’ve come to expect. Delay, deflect and do nothing.”
Mr Knuth warned the situation would only worsen as tens of billions of dollars are funnelled into Olympic infrastructure projects.
“The KAP has been very clear, the Olympics will cost regional Queenslanders vital infrastructure projects and reduce vital services.”
“We are already seeing it and with the Government proposing to weaken North Queensland’s representation in Parliament from 13 to 12 seats, every MP in the region should be concerned.
Mr Knuth said enough was enough and called on the Government to act immediately.
“The community does not want another report. They do not want another review.
They want action.”
“The Government must prioritise patient safety, commit the funding, and reinstate a helipad at or adjacent to Innisfail Hospital as a matter of urgency.”