National's Defence Policy Not Credible Without ANZUS Membership

Wednesday 12 Jun 2002

ACT leader Richard Prebble says he welcomes National's commitment to restore an air combat wing but believes National's policy is not credible unless New Zealand rejoins ANZUS.

"Australia has told both National and Labour that Australia can't afford to provide the training, equipment and expertise needed to restore an air combat wing," Mr Prebble said.

"The only credible way of restoring our defence capability is to rejoin ANZUS. The United States produces the equipment we need, and if we were a member of ANZUS we could not only purchase it at very favourable terms but also get access to training.

"It's a loss of personnel and generations of institutional knowledge that is now the biggest challenge to rebuilding the air force. Only the US can help us do this at an affordable price.

"ACT's policy is to rejoin ANZUS," Mr Prebble said.

ENDS

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