The Government has called for tenders for the $70 million NSW air ambulance contract, which had been held by the iconic service.

Member for Dubbo, Dawn Fardell, said the rally was being held at the request of supporters and those concerned the NSW Government was taking a short-sighted approach.

“The Government needs to consider who has the experience in delivering these services,” Ms Fardell said.

“Who has the proven track-record?

“This decision is too important to leave to a few number-crunchers in a back room.

“At the very least the Government needs to show it’s looking at the whole picture, and this rally will enable people to voice to those issues.”

Late last month it was announced the RFDS had lost the Victorian air ambulance contract to Regional Express subsidiary, Pel-Air.

The two groups are now contesting the NSW service.

Ms Fardell said people had the right to feel their Government had given serious consideration to a decision.

She said the Government needed to take into account all facts, with an eye to the long-term, and an understanding of the various ramifications for country communities.

“Our health and welfare is too important to be flogged off to the cheapest tenderer without consideration of where that leaves our children and grandchildren,” Ms Fardell said.

“The RFDS has spent more than 80 years serving our communities.

“Australians trust the RFDS and the Government needs to ask itself why that is, and whether it is prepared to ignore the concerns of the people.”

The RFDS rally will be held on Monday at the Church Street Rotunda, Dubbo, at 11am.