- The Crisafulli Government has delivered a new POLAIR helicopter in Cairns, completing a permanent northern aerial policing network just weeks after two additional aircraft were delivered to Townsville.
- Backed by a state-of-the-art hangar, the Cairns-based chopper provides continuous coverage across northern Queensland, with Townsville aircraft providing backup and surge capacity when needed.
- The Crisafulli Government is strengthening frontline policing with stronger laws, more resources and expanded capability in the sky to turn the tide on Labor's Youth Crime Crisis.
- The Crisafulli Government is restoring safety where you live and giving police the tools and resources they need after a decade of decline and neglect under Labor.
The Crisafulli Government is making Far North Queensland safer, with the entire top half of the State under permanent police air coverage – for the first time in Queensland's history – following the launch of a dedicated POLAIR helicopter in Cairns today.
The new Bell 429 was unveiled this morning and will be based full-time at the purpose-built hangar, ensuring rapid response capability across Far North Queensland.
It comes just weeks after the Crisafulli Government delivered two new POLAIR helicopters for Townsville on 28 April, with both capabilities now operating as part of a coordinated northern aerial policing network.
It's part of the Crisafulli Government's plan to restore safety where you live and to turn the tide on Labor's Youth Crime Crisis.
Together, the three Cairns and Townsville-based aircraft deliver continuous coverage across the northern half of the State, with Townsville providing surge capacity and operational backup during major incidents, peak demand or maintenance periods.
From locating missing persons to tracking stolen vehicles and dangerous offenders on the run, the new helicopter in Cairns can be airborne within minutes, giving police the upper hand when every second counts.
The aircraft will support operations across the entire Far North, from Cardwell to Cairns, dramatically improving response times across one of the most geographically challenging regions in the state.
The expansion comes as the Crisafulli Government continues to rebuild the frontline, with more than 1,600 new officers joining the Queensland Police Service in the past 18 months, taking the Service beyond 13,000 officers for the first time in history.
The Crisafulli Government is turning the tide on Labor's Youth Crime Crisis, backing police with stronger laws, more boots on the ground and increased capability in the sky as part of the plan to make Queensland safer.
Victim numbers are already down 7.2 per cent in 2025 compared with the previous year.
The new Cairns-based helicopter will further boost frontline capability, equipped with Forward Looking Infrared technology to track offenders, coordinate police responses and provide real-time aerial support across the Far North - day or night.
The expansion will also see three new Tactical Flight Officers and a Senior Sergeant Team Leader permanently stationed in Cairns.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services Dan Purdie said the northern POLAIR network was a key part of restoring safety where you live.
"For the first time in Queensland's history, the entire top half of the state now has permanent aerial policing coverage," Minister Purdie said.
"Just weeks after delivering two POLAIR helicopters for Townsville, we've now completed the network with a dedicated Cairns-based capability that ensures police air support is available wherever and whenever it's needed across North Queensland.
"This is about backing our police with the tools they need to restore safety across the North after Labor's decade of decline."
Member for Cook David Kempton said the new Cairns-based POLAIR capability would deliver a major boost for policing across some of the most remote and challenging communities and make the Far North safer.
"Cook is vast, with many remote communities where POLAIR will be crucial in locating missing persons, tracking stolen vehicles, and pursuing dangerous offenders on the run," Mr Kempton said.
Member for Barron River Bree James said the permanent aerial policing presence would significantly strengthen community safety across Cairns' northern corridor and surrounding suburbs.
"This is a critical step for our region, ensuring police have the capability to respond quickly across vast distances, support frontline operations, and keep our communities safe," Ms James said.
Member for Mulgrave Terry James said the expansion of POLAIR operations was an important step in improving response times and frontline support for communities across the southern Cairns region.
"There's great reassurance in seeing and hearing our eyes in the sky overhead, knowing this capability is helping keep regional communities safe and supporting police on the ground," Mr James said.
Assistant Police Commissioner for Far Northern Region Kevin Guteridge said the launch of POLAIR in Cairns represented a major advancement for policing in the region.
"With POLAIR as our eyes in the sky, we are further strengthening our ability to respond swiftly to emergencies and ensuring our communities benefit from enhanced aerial support, no matter how remote the location," Assistant Commissioner Guteridge said.
"POLAIR provides an invaluable advantage in a region defined by distance, terrain and unique operational challenges, and this expansion reflects our commitment to keeping Far North Queensland communities safe."
