National’s Mutton Dressed As Labour’s Lamb

The Government’s latest defence “announcement” is an exercise in outright deception because it is simply a regurgitation of old National policies said New Zealand First defence spokesperson Ron Mark.

“The P-3 Orion project was announced years ago and was scheduled to be completed between 1998 and 2002.

“Mark Burton’s supposed consolidation of real estate at Whenuapai and Ohakea is simply a rehash of Max Bradford’s defence real estate review which was released in 1997. The policy is driven by a desire to run airbases on as little as possible and totally ignores the risks we have faced since September 11,” said Mr Mark.

“Mr Burton is grabbing headlines by declaring equipment purchases for the army, yet the Automatic Grenade Launcher was approved in 1997 for purchase between 1998 and 2000 and the anti-armour weapons should have been delivered between 1999 and 2000.

“The only defence moves Labour can claim as its own are unwise equipment spending, budget blowouts and the shooting down of the skyhawks. Mr Burton’s Long Term Development Plan contains old projects being dollied up to look shiny and new. The projects are not new – they are late being completed,” said Mr Mark.

“National is too dumb to realise that all Labour has done is implement their plans and added some spin to make it look as though it is their own,” said Mr Mark.

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