FLIR fight looks to be lost

THE Federal Government will not reconsider its canning of funds for vital search and rescue equipment on the Australian Aerial Patrol's aircraft.

AAP chief executive officer Harry Mitchell said the organisation was now having meetings with people such as NSW police to explore options.

One possibility would be for AAP to buy the equipment itself, but Mr Mitchell said this would cost about $320,000 plus running costs.

NSW Police Minister and Minister the Illawarra David Campbell wrote to the Federal Government to ask it to continue funding the Forward Looking Infra-red equipment on the aircraft.

The Commonwealth advised him it had no further obligation to supply the AAP with the specialised equipment.

"I am disappointed the Federal Government will not continue funding the FLIR, but to suggest the NSW Government should take over the ongoing funding is a clear case of cost-shifting," Mr Campbell said.

"This is a Federal program that they have altered and withdrawn funding. "I have consulted operational police and while they would like the FLIR to stay on the AAP aircraft, they simply cannot justify taking the funding from other NSW police activities to keep it."

Mr Mitchell has said if the camera was taken from the patrol and an emergency arose that required and extended search, aircraft would have to come from Brisbane or Melbourne.