Govt renews frigate push

Press, 12 June 1989, Page 9

Govt renews frigate push

By

DAVE WILSON

The Prime Minister, Mr Lange, and the Minister of Defence, Mr Tizard, will launch today a concerted campaign on behalf of the Anzac frigates project, amid strong hints from the Government that New Zealand will not commit itself to a four-ship order.

Mr Lange is to push the frigates case at the sympathetic forum of the Dominion Returned Services Association conference in Wellington. It will be the first time Mr Lange has addressed the R.S.A. conference, underlining the importance he puts on New Zealand staying in the ship-building project with Australia, according to Government sources. This week, the shipbuilding consortiums in Australia will submit their “best and final offer” for what was originally a 12ship project. Once the prices are known the two Governments are required to decide whether a West German or Dutch frigate design will be the Anzac ship. While New Zealand entered the agreement planning to buy four ships, strong hints have come from the Government that New Zealand

will commit itself to only two frigates. Mr Tizard has hinted that New Zealand might seek a leasing deal with the Australian Government, either ordering two frigates with an option to order another two later, or committing to four ships with an option to cancel two. Two of the Navy’s Leander-class frigates must be replaced by the mid-19905, but the balance of the frigate fleet can remain operational until the early years of next century. The Government’s lease and option thinking has already led to a request for quotes on this basis from the Australian shipbuilding consortiums bidding for the work. Mr Lange is expected to outline the frigate options in his address to the R.S.A., as well as to give a strategic overview and argue the need for New

Zealand to keep a blue water Navy capability.

Mr Tizard, as well as supporting the Prime Minister’s case, will seek also to reassure the R.S.A. that the restructuring now under way in the forces will not harm operational capability.

In particular, he will use the R.S.A. forum to speak strongly in favour of keeping the Army’s Territorial Force, whose future was questioned in the Quigley review.

The Prime Minister and Defence Minister’s remarks are designed to boost morale in the Armed Forces, at a time when big organisational restructuring and budget cuts have shaken up traditional service routine.

Mr Tizard is expected to release some details of the Armed Forces Pay Review, approved by the Cabinet last Tuesday, which military personnel will hear this week.