The Defence Minister has damaged his credibility by admitting on radio that he hadn't seen the Auditor General's draft report on the LAVs (light armoured vehicles), ACT leader Richard Prebble says.

"It seems Mr Burton is going to be the last person to know that the Auditor General is about to severely criticise the government's purchase of 105 LAV3s, that were originally estimated to cost just over $200 million. The price has now more than tripled," Mr Prebble said.

"I stand by my claim that the report will show that the correct procedures for purchasing large capital equipment were not followed. The Minister failed to ask questions that any good manager would put.

"The report will show that Cabinet acted against the advice of the government's principal military advisor.

"This government has been criticising, with some validity, the previous National government's purchase of the Charles Upham. The loss on the Charles Upham is about $20 million but the loss on the LAV3s will be more like $600 million.

"The Opposition will be making further revelations of reckless incompetence by the government in the purchase," Mr Prebble said.

ENDS

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