Mark Burton: 10-year funding package will revitalise our armed forces

Mark Burton

The Government's $4.6 billion, 10-year funding package for defence, released this week, continues a systematic, considered approach to restoring the capability of our armed forces.

A Herald editorial, responding to the announcement, said the Government had not indicated it understood why personnel were quitting the Defence Force.

The Government understands well the challenges of recruitment and retention and that is why it has already funded four pay rises in five years for the Defence Force. And, yes, it understands that professional defence personnel want the satisfaction of having up-to-date equipment to do the job.

In 1999, the Government inherited a Defence Force that had been stretched to breaking point through nearly a decade of financial pressure, starting with the $112.75 million budget cuts of 1991-92. The Defence Force had been forced to forgo essential maintenance and to operate obsolete equipment.

There was no quick-fix solution and so the Government embarked on a strategic long-term approach to developing a modern Defence Force.

It laid the foundation for a strategic approach with the Defence Policy Framework in 2000, which described a modern Defence Force made up of a motorised Army, an enhanced Navy and an updated Air Force, structured to meet New Zealand's defence and security needs.

The 2001 Government Defence Statement determined priorities for rebuilding our military capability. Having laid down a clear and coherent policy, the Government released the Long-term Development Plan in 2002, updated annually, outlining what would be bought over the next 10 years.

Under the plan, more than $3 billion has already been committed to essential equipment purchases and upgrades of other assets, including new NH90 helicopters, tactical mobile radio communications for the Army and Air Force, 105 Light Armoured Vehicles, 321 Light Operational Vehicles, and Special Forces equipment.

This week's Defence Sustainability Initiative responds to a 14-month review by senior Defence Force, Ministry of Defence, Treasury and State Services Commission officials.

That review spelled out very frankly deficiencies in the Defence Force and the ministry that date back to the 1990s. The package of $4.6 billion additional funding will be rolled out over the 10-year period. It is intended to restore and develop the resources of the Defence Force and the ministry, and will align long-term personnel recruitment, training, development and resources with the defence capital acquisition programme.

This will enable:

* Increased personnel numbers and enhanced training and retention.
* Maintenance and development of infrastructure at camps and bases.
* Increased reserve stocks of equipment and spares.
* Strengthened administration and management systems.

In relation to staff morale, defence personnel surveys have found that overall levels of satisfaction are high. However, personnel are highly skilled and sought-after in today's competitive labour market.

The Herald's criticism of the Light Armoured Vehicles was unfounded. The Chief of Army, Major General Jerry Mateparae, has said publicly that the LAVs are right for the Army, and that they are world-class.

"I believe this because my soldiers who operate it tell me it is an excellent vehicle, and the facts about the performance of the LAV on operations support what my soldiers are telling me," he said.

Further, he said the Army needs all 105 LAVS and any less will compromise our ability to deliver and sustain a motorised light infantry battalion group.

In response to the Herald's comments about the Air Force, late last year I signed a $226 million contract for the upgrade of the Hercules fleet. The Hercules is the workhorse of the Air Force and is used for a wide range of military airlift tasks and civilian agency requirements. This upgrade will mean they can continue to play a vital role for our Defence Force.

We have also signed a $352 million contract for the upgrade of the Orion fleet. The Orions are critical for military and civilian surveillance of our exclusive economic zone and surrounding waters, as well as meeting our South Pacific obligations.

With regard to the Navy, we are developing a more balanced naval fleet and are building seven vessels - a multi-role vessel, two Southern Ocean-capable offshore patrol vessels and four inshore patrol vessels.

This week's pre-Budget announcement marks the beginning a new era of structured defence funding that will enable defence to move forward, secure in the knowledge it has the long-term funding required to meet the country's defence and security needs.

* Mark Burton is Minister of Defence.