April 21, 2025
A Dutton-Littleproud Coalition Government will deliver better access to healthcare in the bush with $4.9 million for Angel Flight Australia.
Angel Flight Australia is a national charity providing free, non-emergency flights and ground transfers so people living remotely across Australia can access essential healthcare.
Leader of The Nationals, David Littleproud MP, said the funding recognises that distance shouldn't be a barrier to accessing health services in the bush.
“7.2 million people live in regional communities across Australia, and every day they are dealing with the consequences of a critical shortage of GPs, specialists and health professionals,” Mr Littleproud said.
“We know that Australians living in the bush have worse health outcomes than people living in our cities - shorter lives, higher levels of disease and injury and patchy access to health services. We need to make it easier, not harder, for regional Australians to get the healthcare they need, when they need it.”
Senator for the Northern Territory, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, said those in regional and remote areas of Australia had been treated like second-class citizens under Anthony Albanese’s leadership.
“The Coalition will ensure those in the bush aren’t neglected, but are given the same access to healthcare as anyone else in the country; and our investment in Angel Flight is a perfect example of that,” Senator Nampijinpa Price said.
“Angel Flight has demonstrated success, co-ordinating some 20 flights per day, so our commitment will ensure that this vital service doesn’t just survive, but grows stronger for the benefit of our regional and remote Australians.”
Country Liberal Party candidate for Lingiari, Lisa Siebert, said the additional funding for Angel Flight is a practical and effective way the Coalition is tackling the regional health workforce shortage and supporting local communities.
“People shouldn’t miss out on seeing a GP, dentist, or a specialist just because they live in Alice Springs, Katherine or Tennant Creek,” Ms Siebert said.
“Dealing with illness can be a difficult and emotional time, and it’s even more challenging when you live thousands of kilometres away from the treatment you need. This funding is about ending the postcode lottery in health that we see time and time again across Lingiari under the Albanese Government. It’s about connecting health professionals to the patients who need them, at the right time.”
Angel Flight has been operating across Australia for 21 years and currently receives no Government funding, relying entirely on the generosity of individual donors, organisations and bequests to keep the service going.
The Coalition’s commitment to Angel Flight will enable the charity to purchase seven new aircraft, expanding its current operations to transport health professionals to remote locations across the country, including the Northern Territory, Western Australia, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory.
The funding builds on the Coalition’s other regional health initiatives, including $100 million to upgrade medical training facilities and 200 additional regional medical Commonwealth Supported Places, to fast track more health professionals living and working in regional Australia.
Our priorities are building stronger regional economies and secure communities, delivering opportunity and prosperity for all regional Australians, and ensuring a sustainable environment.
Stronger, more secure, sustainable local communities that provide the opportunity for everyone to prosper will deliver a stronger, more secure and sustainable nation.
The Nationals commitment to the national interest does not stop there. The Nationals provide a considered and common sense perspective on all elements of Government policy and a balance between Australia’s political extremes.
