Defence Minister Max Bradford appears to be trying to force the next Labour government into buying a third frigate.

That's according to Green Party Defence Spokesman Keith Locke.

Mr Locke today accused Mr Bradford of "jumping the gun" on purchase of a third frigate by announcing the navy will get a fifth Seasprite SH-2G helicopter.

"Mr Bradford claims the fifth Seasprite is needed for a three frigate navy, even though an incoming Labour-led government is unlikely to endorse a third ANZAC frigate," Mr Locke said.

"The Leander frigate Wellington is being phased out, and the Canterbury won't be far behind.

"The Seasprites are very expensive. According to Mr Bradford, the all-up cost of the fifth marine helicopter is $63 million plus GST. Millions more will be spent annually on operating the helicopter.

"Oddly, Mr Bradford claims that this $63 million 'will be funded entirely from the existing Defence budget'.

"I have written to Mr Bradford about this because it seems to be a case of Budget duplicity, unless the Defence Force has suddenly saved $63 million since the Budget Estimates were approved a short time ago.

"Under Vote Defence Part A2, there is only mention of spending for 'four Seasprite maritime helicopters'. If a fifth Seasprite was planned why wasn't it mentioned and costed in the Budget.

"The millions wasted on the extra Seasprite would be better spent in social and environmental areas. The whole frigate project is a costly white elephant. Why add to the extravagance," said Mr Locke.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>