Monday 20 March 2000
Quigley recommends keeping some F-16s
Derek Quigley has told the Government what the Opposition has said all along - that cancellation of the F-16 contract
would be a dramatic departure for New Zealand's defence policy with far-reaching implications, Opposition Leader Jenny
Shipley said today.
The Opposition today released the Quigley report which recommends continuing with the F-16 contract but leasing less
than the original 28.
"Mr Quigley has identified the key issue - that cancelling the contract would either commit New Zealand to a higher
replacement cost further down the track or mean the end of the country's air strike capability.
"As he says, that is too big a decision to be taken in isolation. The Government must reconsider its head-in the-sand
opposition to the contract," Mrs Shipley said.
Ends