Govt turns on frigate issue

By Mathew Dearnaley

Defence is escalating into a major election issue, as the Government yesterday rounded on advice that Labour might abandon frigates and F-16 fighter planes.

Labour leader Helen Clark said that her party would not preserve a "frigate-based Navy" forever, preferring to consider multi-purpose vessels better suited to New Zealand's needs.

She said that was the only divergence between Labour and a foreign affairs and defence select committee report, which recommends keeping two frigates.

Defence Minister Max Bradford said Labour's agenda would leave New Zealand defenceless in its own backyard.

"Miss Clark and Labour would have us in the position of having to bludge off our neighbours in times of crisis."

His Government is committed to three frigates, which will mean finding a replacement for HMNZS Canterbury by 2005 to join the two Anzac ships Te Kaha and Te Mana, which cost $1.5 billion.

The last Labour Government ordered the Anzacs, allegedly partly to appease Australia after the United States dumped New Zealand from the Anzus alliance in retaliation for banning nuclear ship visits.

The select committee is calling for a smaller but deadlier combat fleet and the addition of two logistic ships to project and support soldiers around the world in conflicts of low to medium intensity.

It also urges the Government to review or justify its lease of 28 F-16 fighter jets from the United States, and consider arming the Orion maritime patrol planes with missiles.

Labour has already vowed to reassess the $363 million F-16 deal if it wins the election, cancelling it if penalties are not too high and keeping the elderly Skyhawks until 2007.

Helen Clark said Labour was withholding a long-term commitment to a two-frigate Navy, but indicated it would keep the first two Anzacs for now. Mr Bradford was indulging in "irrational Cold War rhetoric."

She confirmed Labour would look at, among other proposals, ice-strengthened and multi-purpose Danish ships being built several metres longer than the Anzacs at half their $500 million unit price.

Labour transport spokesman Harry Duynhoven, who lost a fight with his own caucus in the 1980s to buy Danish ships, said it was disgraceful that the Navy had not considered them before now.