Govt picks Quigley for defence study

By AUDREY YOUNG and MATHEW DEARNALEY

Prime Minister Helen Clark has confirmed that former Act MP Derek Quigley will conduct the key defence assessment for the Government, an influential policy-making role normally filled by defence officials.

The last defence assessment, in 1997, set out defence equipment requirements over a 20-year period and a $663 million procurement programme for five years.

Mr Quigley is conducting a review of National's deal with the US to lease-to-buy 28 mothballed but new F-16 fighter planes. That is due to be completed by March.

Helen Clark said she had also asked Mr Quigley to conduct the wider defence assessment and he would take account of officials' views. "It gives you a perspective from outside."

It is not his first job for a Labour Government. Mr Quigley was commissioned as a private-sector consultant in 1988 to conduct a management review of the Defence Force.

National's new defence spokesman, Wayne Mapp, said the choice of Mr Quigley suggested the Government had pre-determined the outcome of the assessment. "You know what that person's view is already."

The defence assessment would essentially be the report of the defence select committee that Mr Quigley chaired in the last Parliament.

"Labour made it very clear that's what they would implement. And appointing Derek makes it very clear that's what they are going to implement."

The select committee recommended that the Army be the priority of the Defence Force and rated as a low priority the need for an air combat capability.

Dr Mapp said East Timor illustrated why combat capabilities in the Navy and Air Force had to be maintained, rather than turning those Services into mere transport providers for the Army.

Troops in East Timor had been covered by F-18s and frigates.

"It was a very, very clear and sharp message to the Indonesian military to stay out of the thing and it worked."

Mr Quigley said the select committee report was about prioritising needs rather than slashing capabilities. "The reality is that with its limited resources, New Zealand clearly has to do some things before others."

His select committee's interim report late last year avoided making a direct recommendation on leasing the F-16s, but ranked air strike as the last of four defence priorities.

The first three were land forces, air and sea transport forces, and maritime patrol forces of both the Navy and Air Force.

Mr Quigley said all four National MPs on the select committee, including Dr Mapp, signed off the report.

But by the time the committee published its final report in August, the then-Government had approved the F-16s deal and the National MPs swung in behind it by issuing a minority view.

He is, meanwhile, wasting little time in setting up his new inquiry into the F-16 deal, chairing a meeting yesterday of Defence, Foreign Affairs and Treasury chief executives in anticipation of cabinet approval of its terms of reference next week.