Govt opts to split Defence in two

Press, 16 May 1989, Page 1

Govt opts to split Defence in two

By

BRENDON BURNS

in Wellington

The Government has opted to split the Ministry of Defence in two, as recommended by the Quigley Defence resources review. Announcing the broad outline of the new structure yesterday, the Minister of Defence, Mr Tizard, said staff levels had yet to be decided for the new structure. A s ” small, civilian Ministry of Defence will be established to manage the buying and repair of equipment and resources. Headed by the Secretary of Defence, Dr Basil Walker, as chief executive, the Ministry will remain a Government department under the State Sector Act, 1988. Operational Defence activities will be the responsibility of the New Zealand Defence Force, under the command of the Chief of Defence Force. This is the equivalent to the position of Chief of Defence Staff, at present held by General John Mace. Mr Tizard has opted for Mr Quigley’s recommendation that the civilian Ministry and the New

Zealand Defence Force should provide him with policy advice.

A consultative committee will be established to create formal interaction between the two Defence organisations. About 16,000 people work within the existing Defence structure.

Mr Quigley’s review suggested 1000 positions alone could be abolished at Defence Headquarters in Wellington. “Insufficient work has as yet been done to assign staffing levels to units or to the over-all structure,” said Mr Tizard. Staff levels would be considered by the Government next month.

A host of legislative amendments are required before the changes announced yesterday can be put into effect. Mr Tizard said these might not all be possible before early next year. However, a target date of October 1, 1989, had been set for the introduction of the new structures to achieve the desired efficiency improvements as soon as possible.

Mr Quigley’s Defence resources review, released in March, had recommended the radical change in Defence administration which the Government has now accepted. The review challenged the view that only military personnel were capable of making Defence policy and urged civilian input as well. ’ •

The Press Association says the post of Deputy Secretary of Defence will be axed. The move was announced after a decision by the present Deputy Secretary, Mr Roger Green, to retire on June 30. Mr Green, who was educated at Christchurch West High School and Victoria University, joined the Navy as a laboratory assistant at Lyttelton before moving to the Labour Department in Christchurch in 1953, then the Health Department. He was later director of research and planning for the State Services Commission and assistant secretary for employment and training in the Department of Labour. He was appointed Deputy Secretary of Defence in July, 1979.