Government signals more defence spending

The Government has signalled there will be more spending for defence in next month's budget.

Defence Minister Mark Burton said today the Government had recently undertaken a defence capability and resourcing review, which would be released soon.

"New Zealanders will see the response to this important review in this year's budget," he said in a statement

Mr Burton was contrasting the Labour-led Government's approach to defence, with National, which he said had an "ad hoc" policy.

A spokeswoman for Mr Burton would not confirm any details of the new spending, but said it was possible details would be announced before the May 19 budget.

Mr Burton said National leader Don Brash's comments on defence this week showed it was making "policy on the hoof".

Dr Brash criticised the Government's level of defence spending, and suggested this week it should be increased by up to 20 per cent, which would cost an extra $200 million a year.

However he said he could not make major decisions about the future of the defence force until his party was in power.

Mr Burton said Dr Brash's comments were an admission that National did not have a defence policy.

A spokesman for Dr Brash said Labour had repeatedly failed to fix problems in defence until National had exposed shortcomings in its purchase of new vehicles and its failure to upgrade Orion and Hercules aircraft.

In relation to its own policy, he said National had "pledged to get defence spending back to normal".

The party also considered it essential to repair relations with Canberra and Washington.

- NZPA