Frigate debate called ‘bizarre’

Press, 1 June 1989, Page 8

Frigate debate called ‘bizarre’

By

DAVE WILSON

One of the New Zealand partners in the Anzac frigates project yesterday expressed frustration and anger at the lack of recognition in this country of the project’s jobcreation opportunities. Mr Rick Christie, managing director of Cable Price Downer, said the frigate debate had become bizarre. “It is a long time since

a single issue has produced such a plethora of experts, politicised views, free-loaders and hype with such an attendant and overwhelming lack of clarity, facts or even purpose.”

He made the remarks at a briefing in Wellington for representatives of the public sector, industry and trade unions. Cable Price Downer is the New Zealand partner of Amecon, the Australian consortium offering the German Meko frigate design in the Anzac project.

Mr Christie said C.P.D. was frustrated with the

lack of emphasis or even recognition being given to the project’s opportunities for New Zealand industry.

The chairman of the Defence Manufacturers’ Association, Mr Neville Jordan, told the meeting that participation in the Anzac project offered New Zealand industry the opportunity for a quantum leap forward in technology and capability that would otherwise take many years to develop.

Mr Christie said New Zealand needed to be more self-reliant and assertive in its defence procurement policies and encourage local industry to have a greater involvement in defence work.

Because of New Zealand industry being given access to compete for Australian Defence contracts, the frigates project was the ideal opportunity to start putting a New Zealand Defence contracting industry into existence, he said.