Dr Wayne Mapp
National Party Defence Spokesman

25 January 2006

What’s the price of Project Protector?

New Zealanders have the right to know how much the Navy’s new Project Protector ships are going to cost, says National’s Defence spokesman, Wayne Mapp.

A $500 million budget has been approved for the project, which is supposed to deliver seven new ships in the next two and a half years.

In response to Parliamentary questions the Defence Minister refused to reveal the cost of each of the ships within the Project.

“Why should this be a state secret?” asks Dr Mapp.

“In December last year the Minister was told by the contractor that delivery of some of the ships may be delayed by several months.

“Any hold-ups with the ships will probably mean an escalation in cost.

“How can New Zealanders be confident they are getting value for money when they aren’t told how much of their tax dollars are going into each of the ships?

"You'd think after the shambles with prison construction Labour would be especially careful to dot the i's and cross the t's of significant public contracts."

ENDS

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