ACT Endorses RSA’s Defence Statement – Challenges other parties to do same

ACT Leader Rodney Hide today endorsed the RNZRSA’s Defence Statement declaring it a wake-up call for New Zealanders.

“Successive governments have run down our military capacity to dangerous levels and trashed our relationship with our traditional allies Australia and the USA.

“We are left with no coherent defence policy and no sound strategy to ensure collective security," Mr Hide said.

“Our defence policy for years has been based on cost-cutting and the gamble that we face a

benign future. It’s a false saving and a gamble we will lose.

“There should be no doubt that at some point our country will once again require our armed forces to go into harm’s way for the purposes of our defence. The tragedy is that young men and young women will pay for our cost cutting and policy gamble with their lives.

“The RNZRSA are right. Their statement provides sound analysis and a clear direction. We need to boost defence spending as a percentage of GDP. We need to maintain a balanced force including warships and attack aircraft. We need to repair and strengthen alliances with proven friends in particular Australia and the USA," Mr Hide said.

“The ACT party endorses the RNZRSA’s statement: we challenge all other parties to do likewise."

ENDS

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