Defence paper 'not a shopping list’

Press, 24 February 1987, Page 6

Defence paper 'not a shopping list’

By

OLIVER RIDDELL

in Wellington

The long-awaited Defence White Paper will be released by the Government on Thursday. “ At his .post-Cabinet press conference yesterday; the Prime Minister, Mr Lange, said the White Paper would focus on the Australia-New Zealand defence relationship. . But this did not mean New Zealand would be buying a frigate from Aus : tralia >— as had. been suggested in the news media during the weekend — <or a frigate from . a *^ ! •• -V

“The White Paper is not a shopping list for military equipment,” he said. An unfortunate impression had been given that New Zealand was in the frigate business when it was not. Authorised defence discussions had been held between Australian and New Zealand officials; what had not been authorised from any source was a news media briefing that frigates were being discussed. "We will not be joining Australia in a frigate programme,” Mr Lange said. "We are looking at having a deep-water capacity —

one that is more appropriate to our needs and not an all-up and fully-armed: vessel like a frigate.”

He was asked if this meant an aircraft carrier. After some laughter, he denied that an aircraft carrier was involved as that would cause the collapse of the stock market Mr Lange declined to specify what kind of “deep-water combat vessel” was contemplated, other than it was not a frigate as had been suggested. “It is a positive document and will focus on defence matters of concern,” he said.