Defence cost to stay same

Press, 15 December 1983, Page 1

Defence cost to stay same

The Government has decided to keep defence expenditure about current levels, according to the Defence Review tabled in Parliament yesterday. In these “difficult circumstances,” the report said, it was evident that there was little room to manoeuvre. The review said that there was no fundamental shift from the basic policy outlined in the last review, in 1978. It said that for New Zealand to attempt to stand alone and self-sufficient would be absurd, and that A.N.Z.U.S. remained fundamental to its defence interests. The review noted that in the South Pacific context the Government did not accept that defence capacity should be circumscribed by the 200-mile exclusive economic zone or limited strictly to the defence of New Zealand itself. It restated the objectives of defence policy. These were: • To preserve the security and integrity of New Zealand and its 200-mile exclusive economic zone. •To promote security and stable development in the South Pacific by providing .on request practical assistance in defence matters to the countries of the region. • To be able to respond militarily to low-level emergencies within the South Pacific. 9To maintain and strengthen the defence relationships with A.N.Z.U.S. partners. • To develop defence cooperation with Australia, including defence supply and mutual logistic support. • To demonstrate a commitment to peace and stability in South-East Asia by continuing mutually beneficial training-stance arrangements, exchange programmes, and exercises with the countries of the region.