07 May 2004

National Naive Over Nukes

Rt Hon Winston Peters is calling on Don Brash to rethink his naïve nuclear policy and to do his homework before advocating a radical stance on this very serious issue.

“If Brash had done his research he would have found that now very few American Ships are nuclear powered and those that are nuclear powered are too big for our ports,” said Mr Peters.

“Successive government’s in the 70’s and 80’s were of the opinion that ANZUS was never intended as a nuclear alliance, such as that of the NATO alliance.

“The ‘so-called’ Danish parallel Brash speaks of is completely irrelevant to this debate given that Denmark is a member of NATO.

“No military parallel can be made between New Zealand and Denmark, and it further exhibits Brash’s penchant for ‘pro-business’ rhetoric over serious debate and the will of the New Zealand public; who in many polls over the years have overwhelming supported to continue with our no nuclear stance.

“National has wanted to get rid of the present law and policy for a long time. This is the party that wanted us to go to war in Iraq and they simply cannot be trusted to act in our best interests.

“There is no proof that our trading relationships will improve by allowing nuclear ships into our harbours. After all some of the US’s biggest military allies are their biggest trading competitors.

“Foreign policy is a serious issue and should be dealt with by people who know what they are talking about. This is no time to be learning on the job,” said Mr Peters.

ENDS

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