Wayne Mapp MP
National Party Defence Spokesman

9 March 2007

LAVs ready to go at 'short notice' - really?

National Party Defence spokesman Wayne Mapp is intrigued by comments made by Phil Goff that the army's Light Armoured Vehicles are 'available at short notice to be used operationally in the numbers that may be required'.

"Firstly, he still hasn't answered my earlier question about the value of vehicles that are languishing in New Zealand garages.

"But more importantly, Mr Goff has said they are available 'at short notice'. Could they go tomorrow for instance? If that's the case Mr Goff needs to say how the New Zealand defence force would get these vehicles to their destination.

"Mr Goff should let the public know precisely how many LAVs are indeed fully crewed and available to 'be used operationally', because by his own admission, there are problems with a number of those vehicles."

Mr Goff has previously said there is no point purchasing equipment which is not going to be used.

"Given that our people are serving in trouble spots throughout the world, in what circumstances does Mr Goff think they'll be used and when?"

ENDS

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