The Defence Question’

Press, 20 December 1985, Page 2

The Defence Question’

Wellington reporter

The scope of public involvement in the Government’s defence policy review will become clear today with the publication of a discussion paper “The Defence Question.”

The paper is intended to provide a basis for public submissions to the fourmember Defence Inquiry Committee announced recently. The Government said yesterday “The Defence Question” would set the scene for consultation and raise questions which the committee, to be chaired by Mr Frank Corner, a retired Secretary of Foreign Affairs, would seek to answer. February 28 has been set

as the closing date for submissions, before the committee holds public hearings in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, during March and April. The Prime Minister, Mr Lange, has said the Government’s anti-nuclear policy will be outside the scope for public participation in the defence review, and the discussion paper is expected to identify which other policies the Government does want public comment on.

By next June, the committee will have produced a report on public attitudes to future strategic and security policies, and a Government Defence White Paper will then be prepared.