Sassless
LifeFlight is recognised by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) as a charity and therfore does not pay tax upon any surpluses. The reason why they do this is because our constitution dictates all surplusses (profits) be reinvested into the organisation rather than a Director or Member (shareholder) receive a benefit from the company (...no income, dividend or benefit of any kind).
We are not "supported by tax money....and thereby do not have to worry about profitability as do the commerical operators".
LifeFLight must operate as if we were a fully fledged commerical operation or we'll go broke just like you and any other operator... We do not get underwritten by government of tax dollars.
We have however sold two key sponsorships from corporations seeking to associate themselves with the good will surrounding our operations (ie Aeromedical, Rescue, Fire Fighting). Supporting the community in this manner provides them with a vehicle to display their ethical investment in the safety of the community they work within.
These sponsorships can be gained by private commercial operations as well.... so am unsure of the perceived 'leg up' people are assuming we have??
Brett Rankin.