John Carter - National Party Defence Spokesman

3 February 2005

Labour lets down Air Force again

National Party Defence spokesman John Carter says the grounding of a third Air Force plane on its way to help in tsunami relief is another embarrassment for Labour.

He is commenting on the breakdown at Ohakea of a Boeing 757, the third breakdown of an Air Force relief plane in four weeks.

"Here we go again. First it was the old Hercules, which something should have been about years ago, and now it is a second-hand 757.

"It is disgraceful that our international reputation has descended to this level, and it is embarrassing when we can't get our peacekeeping roles right, let alone our defence.

"How can we expect our defence staff to do their jobs properly when Labour will not give them reliable gear.

"Our Air Force is virtually falling out of the sky before our eyes, and it is time Helen Clark and Mark Burton did something about it," Mr Carter says.

ENDS

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