Of course some of the RFDS's operations are high risk.
They have 3 modes.
Clinical. Flying medical teams around the country to provide medical services to remote communities. Pre-planned missions to prepared destinations. Low Risk.
Transfer. Moving patients between locations... Pre-planned and low risk.
Evac. Dropping into un-prepared strips, often at night, with minimal planning. Crew discretion at the moment....VERY high risk.
Evac ops are where the risk is, and it does not matter who you contract it to, the risks will always remain...unless you rule the evac side out of the operation. RFDS are in the top 5 in the world for evac capability, and the blokes that fly for them are not cowboys.
This is a political beat up for someones financial agenda.
High time the RFDS was made a government institution with all the funding and dispensations that go with it.
Cheers
Jas