Media Release

2 October 2001

Unwise, Inappropriate, Inaction

New Zealand First Defence Spokesperson Ron Mark has today said that the decision to take no action over the ordered shredding of a document ahead of an outside investigation defies understanding.

“The finding that the order was unwise and inappropriate ought to have been accompanied by remedial action. Instead we have a do nothing, say nothing, mean nothing report on a report.

“How can we have confidence that the other Defence inquiries will lead to any meaningful action?” said Mr Mark.

“For weeks I have been hearing stories of documents being shredded in Army General staff to thwart investigations into flaky Defence procurement advice and questions of an alleged political campaign being run by very senior Army Officers.

“This inquiry has failed to deal with that issue and only served to highlight the need for a fully independent Commission of Inquiry into all of the disturbing allegations that have swirled around our Defence Force and undermined the moral of our servicemen and women,” said Mr Mark.

ENDS.

© Scoop Media