You're Wrong Mr Carter
(Source: New Zealand Government; issued May 4, 2005)
Defence Minister Mark Burton says he is puzzled by National Party Defence Spokesman John Carter's question concerning the $3 billion defence spending announced in 2002.
"Mr Carter has asked for an explanation of what happened to the $3 billion announced three years ago.
"As the Member would know if he understood his portfolio, this money has been committed to capital expenditure under the 2002 Long Term Development Plan."
Major purchases and commitments to date under the LTDP include:
-- Tactical Mobile Radio Communications for Army and Air Force.
-- Light Armoured Vehicles (LAVs) spares and test equipment.
-- Two Boeing 757 aircraft and associated modification programmes
-- 321 light operational vehicles (LOVs).
-- Javelin medium range anti-armour guided-missile systems and associated equipment.
-- Identification, alerting and cueing air defence system.
-- Project Protector Maritime Fleet of one Multi-Role Vessel, two Offshore Patrol Vessels, and four Inshore Patrol Vessels.
-- Upgrade of mission systems, communications and navigation systems on the P-3 Orion aircraft.
-- C-130 Hercules Life Extension and communications and navigation systems upgrade.
-- Medium Utility Helicopter Replacement of the Iroquois helicopters.
-- Ohakea Runway upgrade
-- Medium Range Anti-Armour Weapon
-- Very Low Level Air Defence System
-- Special Operations Equipment
-- Direct Fire Support Weapon – Area
-- New Defence headquarters building
These purchases and commitments to date under the LTDP amount to at least $2.8 billion.
"We have delivered a copy of the LTDP which has been publicly available and updated annually since 2002, along with Defence Sustainability Initiative and the Defence Capability and Resourcing Review to Mr Carter's office today. Clearly his office is void of anything resembling a defence policy," Mark Burton said.
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