--- title: "Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service cleared of toxic culture" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/westpac-rescue-helicopter-service-cleared-of-toxic-culture" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/westpac-rescue-helicopter-service-cleared-of-toxic-culture" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/westpac-rescue-helicopter-service-cleared-of-toxic-culture.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/westpac-rescue-helicopter-service-cleared-of-toxic-culture" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-10-27T08:25:30.557Z" source_reported: "2026-10-27T07:48:35.000Z" updated: "2026-10-27T08:25:30.557Z" trust_score: 60 critic_score: 65 hype_score: 45 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-28T07:18:41.132Z" --- # Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service cleared of toxic culture *Internal review finds no pervasive toxicity but notes 20% of staff experienced or witnessed harassment.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 60 of 100, higher is better. One full report and six digests provide details, with claims attributed to the review or named individuals. - Craft 65 of 100, higher is better. The full report details specific allegations and review findings, while digests offer brief summaries. - Hype 45 of 100, lower is better. Headlines suggest a clear clearance, but the body of the report details significant issues found. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - An internal review by King & Wood Mallesons concluded the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service does not have a pervasive toxic culture. - However, the review found 20% of employees experienced or witnessed sexual harassment, with 11 incidents in the past 12 months. - Sexist and racist material was present at fundraising events, and some staff were seen as 'untouchables'. - The service's $500 million contract is under scrutiny from a NSW parliamentary inquiry and NSW Ambulance. An internal review by King & Wood Mallesons has found that the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service does not have a toxic culture. The review, commissioned after whistleblowers alleged a "culture of fear" endangered staff and patients, found the service maintained high standards and was a "positive and respectful workplace" overall. A redacted summary of the review was released, though the full 207-page report has been requested by a NSW parliamentary inquiry and NSW Ambulance. Despite the conclusion of no pervasive toxic culture, the review identified significant issues. Twenty per cent of employees reported experiencing or witnessing sexual harassment, including 11 individuals in the past 12 months. Sexist and racist material was found at fundraising events, and some staff were perceived as "untouchables" due to their tenure or relationships within the service. Five respondents reported that hostile or undermining behaviour from colleagues or leaders had negatively impacted patient safety or care. ## Disagreement on culture and impact Westpac Rescue's chair, John Fenwick, stated that the service is "on a journey" and not an organisation with a pervasive toxic culture, adding that "those experiences are unacceptable, and I am sorry." He noted significant renewal across the organisation, including personnel changes and updated governance. However, Stacey Price, a former training co-ordinator, stated the review did not reflect her personal experience or concerns shared by others. She claimed she was sexually harassed and became concerned for her safety after raising issues about training compliance. ## What the coverage left out No right-rated outlet ran this story. The left-rated and centre-rated reports did not mention the specific figure of $17 million raised by Westpac Rescue from fundraising and events in 2023-24, which was included in the full report. ## Who covered it Shares of the 12 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 75% (9) - Centre: 25% (3) - Right: 0% (0) 0 of 12 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-28T07:18:41.132Z. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 13 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-28T11:15:28.144Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Left-rated reports highlighted that the future of Westpac Rescue's $500 million contract hangs in the balance following the release of the review summary. These reports also noted the review detailed 31 recommendations for improvement after allegations of bullying and sexual harassment. The Newcastle Herald, Gloucester Advocate, and The Age all used headlines indicating the report "clears rescue chopper on patient safety, demands overhaul of complaints culture." ### Centre - Centre-rated reports led with the finding that Westpac Rescue was cleared of a "toxic culture" despite the presence of sexual harassment and racism findings. WA Today, which published the full report, detailed that 20% of employees experienced or witnessed sexual harassment, including 11 in the past 12 months. These reports also noted that sexist and racist material was present at fundraising events and that some staff were perceived as "untouchables." ### Right No separate framing summary. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 6 - veryHigh: 6 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [NBN News](https://nbnnews.com.au/2026/10/28/westpac-rescue-helicopter-services-future-remains-up-in-the-air) — Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service’s future remains up in the air - [northerndailyleader.com.au](https://northerndailyleader.com.au/story/9381098/report-clears-westpac-rescue-helicopter-service-on-patient-safety) — Report clears rescue chopper on patient safety, demands overhaul of complaints culture - [inverelltimes.com.au](https://inverelltimes.com.au/story/9381098/report-clears-westpac-rescue-helicopter-service-on-patient-safety) — Report clears rescue chopper on patient safety, demands overhaul of complaints culture - [gleninnesexaminer.com.au](https://gleninnesexaminer.com.au/story/9381098/report-clears-westpac-rescue-helicopter-service-on-patient-safety) — Report clears rescue chopper on patient safety, demands overhaul of complaints culture - [moreechampion.com.au](https://moreechampion.com.au/story/9381098/report-clears-westpac-rescue-helicopter-service-on-patient-safety) — Report clears rescue chopper on patient safety, demands overhaul of complaints culture - [Sydney Morning Herald](https://smh.com.au/politics/nsw/westpac-rescue-cleared-of-toxic-culture-despite-sexual-harassment-and-racism-findings-20261027-p6193h.html) — Westpac Rescue cleared of ‘toxic culture’ despite sexual harassment and racism findings - [The Age](https://theage.com.au/politics/nsw/westpac-rescue-cleared-of-toxic-culture-despite-sexual-harassment-and-racism-findings-20261027-p6193h.html) — Westpac Rescue cleared of ‘toxic culture’ despite sexual harassment and racism findings - [Brisbane Times](https://brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/nsw/westpac-rescue-cleared-of-toxic-culture-despite-sexual-harassment-and-racism-findings-20261027-p6193h.html) — Westpac Rescue cleared of ‘toxic culture’ despite sexual harassment and racism findings - [WA today](https://watoday.com.au/politics/nsw/westpac-rescue-cleared-of-toxic-culture-despite-sexual-harassment-and-racism-findings-20261027-p6193h.html) — Westpac Rescue cleared of ‘toxic culture’ despite sexual harassment and racism findings - [Newcastle Herald](https://newcastleherald.com.au/story/9380834/westpac-rescue-helicopter-service-findings-from-culture-review) — Report clears rescue chopper on patient safety, demands overhaul of complaints culture - [dungogchronicle.com.au](https://dungogchronicle.com.au/story/9380834/westpac-rescue-helicopter-service-findings-from-culture-review) — Report clears rescue chopper on patient safety, demands overhaul of complaints culture - [gloucesteradvocate.com.au](https://gloucesteradvocate.com.au/story/9380834/westpac-rescue-helicopter-service-findings-from-culture-review) — Report clears rescue chopper on patient safety, demands overhaul of complaints culture ## Questions **What did the internal review find about Westpac Rescue's culture?** An internal review by King & Wood Mallesons concluded that the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service does not have a pervasive toxic culture. However, it did find systemic issues and instances of misconduct. **What specific issues were identified in the review?** The review found that 20% of employees experienced or witnessed sexual harassment, with 11 incidents in the past 12 months. It also noted the presence of sexist and racist material at fundraising events and that some staff were perceived as 'untouchables'. **What is the status of Westpac Rescue's $500 million contract?** The future of Westpac Rescue's $500 million contract is uncertain. The service is under increasing scrutiny from a NSW parliamentary inquiry and NSW Ambulance, both of which have requested the full review report. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/westpac-rescue-helicopter-service-cleared-of-toxic-culture. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service cleared of toxic culture", https://mediabias.news/politics/westpac-rescue-helicopter-service-cleared-of-toxic-culture