Aussie fire contracts

[Ding Dong]

?? Hmmm

I am not that great on economics, or government spending, but why doesn't the australian govenrment actually purchase one or two skycrane helicopters or tender a private contract instead of importing, leasing, then sending them back on a ship or even by air freight (which they have done in the past) every fire season at a massive cost ..... .

Any ideas on why they do this ???