Max Bradford National Defence Spokesperson

20 February 2001

Max Bradford: another Skyhawk crash

"Thank God there wasn't another tragic death."

National's Defence spokesperson Max Bradford's comment follows news tonight that an A4 Skyhawk crashed 100 kilometres off the Australian west coast.

"The loss of another aircraft is a severe blow to the airforce, but the loss of another life would have been greater," Mr Bradford said.

"This crash confirms the wisdom the previous National Government took to replace the 30-year-old A4 Skyhawks with the F16s. National's policy was to continue with an air combat wing in the air force. That of course is now under severe threat by the Labour-Alliance Government.

"The rash of accidents in the last few weeks is related to the low morale in the airforce. That low morale is directly related to the Government's refusal to confirm if there is a future for the air combat wing or if it's going to be killed off. Slow strangulation is irresponsible government policy.

"The Prime Minister and the Minister of Defence owe our service women and men and the airforce the honesty of telling them what sort of future they have," Mr Bradford said.

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