Bradford: defence plan isolates us

By VERNON SMALL deputy political reporter

The Opposition has accused the Government of isolationism after Prime Minister Helen Clark outlined plans to scrap the submarine detection role of the Air Force Orions and replace the ageing frigate HMNZS Canterbury with multi-purpose patrol craft.

National's defence spokesman Max Bradford yesterday said the Government was focused on the Pacific and was turning its back on Asia and issues to the west.

Australia would take the decision not to upgrade the Orions' submarine detection equipment badly because it would have to spend more to make up for it.

The emerging shape of the Defence Force, with an emphasis on the Army, peacekeeping and non-military surveillance, was causing a reassessment of the level of New Zealand-Australian cooperation.

"They have made it clear to me in private talks that if New Zealand is to be considered a viable contributor to collective responsibilities in the region ... then we are going to have to come prepared to be a self-sustaining unit."

That would mean providing air combat cover from helicopters or fighter planes, ships and transport.

"That's a big shift from where they were when we were in Government." He said Helen Clark was wrong to argue that the submarine search capability should be dumped because no submarines had been detected in 35 years of operation.

The Orions were a deterrent and would be increasingly important as many navies in the region were buying submarines.

Helen Clark told the Herald on Wednesday that the key issue in a report on sea and air maritime surveillance handed to her last week was the tasks the Orions and surface ships should be carrying out.

The Government was likely to make a pre-Budget decision on the future shape of maritime surveillance - probably in May - retaining some or all of the Orions but giving them a greater role in civilian surveillance, such as search and rescue and fisheries protection.

The report also raised the prospect of at least one long-range patrol craft to replace the Canterbury, which is due to be retired in 2005.

It had also been suggested that private sector companies could be involved in surveillance work, but Helen Clark said the report "had a public sector bias in it."

Mr Bradford said by considering reducing the role of the Orions and using business to monitor the seas around New Zealand, the Prime Minister was "hell-bent on disembowelling New Zealand's Defence Force."

But Helen Clark said the moves likely to be disclosed in May would be good for the Navy and Air Force.

The review had shown there was "a pretty thin blue line" when it came to fisheries protection and customs patrols.

The frigates were combat vessels and when former defence minister Max Bradford sent the Te Kaha to the Southern Ocean to scare off poachers of Patagonian toothfish it had been "so shaken up [by rough seas] it required extensive refurbishment in the dock."

A fully equipped Anzac-class frigate would cost about $750 million, which would buy good long-range and medium-range patrol craft.