Monday 20 March 2000

Quigley recommends keeping some F-16s

Derek Quigley has told the Government what the Opposition has said all along - that cancellation of the F-16 contract would be a dramatic departure for New Zealand's defence policy with far-reaching implications, Opposition Leader Jenny Shipley said today.

The Opposition today released the Quigley report which recommends continuing with the F-16 contract but leasing less than the original 28.

"Mr Quigley has identified the key issue - that cancelling the contract would either commit New Zealand to a higher replacement cost further down the track or mean the end of the country's air strike capability.

"As he says, that is too big a decision to be taken in isolation. The Government must reconsider its head-in the-sand opposition to the contract," Mrs Shipley said.

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