Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

New Zealand's Loss is Australia's $1b Gain

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is set to save hundreds of millions of dollars by gaining New Zealand pilots as a result of the scrapping of New Zealand's Air Combat Force, ACT Defence Spokesman MP Owen Jennings said today.

"We will lose a massive amount of talent, as these capable young airforce personnel head overseas," Owen Jennings said.

"The RAAF currently have eleven operational pilots available for their thirty-four F111 fighter bombers and forty-two pilots for seventy-one FA18 Hornet fighters.

"The Australians are short of at least fifty-two pilots.

"We are making redundant at least 700 pilots and ground crew. We have invested a lot of time and money to produce excellent pilots, and Australia could gain them.

"Figures from Australia estimate the cost of training a pilot is in excess of $25m. That figure includes the cost of salaries, fuel, ground support crew costs, and maintenance. New Zealand has invested a fraction of that figure and our pilots can simply walk across the base at Nowra and join the RAAF.

"Recent joint exercises between New Zealand and Australia have shown the vast experience and skill New Zealand pilots have, even with their outdated aircraft. In one recent joint exercise, our pilots "sunk" the HMAS ANZAC four times before the RAAF got a shot off," Owen Jennings said today.

Ends


Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.