Tizard answers review queries

Press, 28 July 1989, Page 6

Tizard answers review queries

BRENDON BURNS

By

in Wellington The chapter of the Quigley defence review supporting Anzac frigates was not referred to defence officials or himself, the Minister of Defence, Mr Tizard, told Parliament yesterday. Responding to questions about the changes evidenced by an early draft, Mr Tizard said there had been extensive consultations between Ministry of Defence officials and Mr Quigley’s consultancy company. But final responsibility for the report rested with the company, he said. The Opposition Defence spokesman, Mr Don McKinnon, asked who was responsible for the deletion of adverse comments

about Anzac frigates, getting a two-part answer from Mr Tizard. “Chapter 17, I think it was, containing the Anzac ship section of the report, was never submitted to defence officials and to me,” he told Parliament. Second, he said, Mr Quigley had stated he would sue anyone who claimed differently. Mr Tizard said it was important to note Mr Quigley was responsible for pulling together a number of reports from a variety of sources, including some from Defence, and others engaged on contract to his company. It would be surprising if there were not revision was the various reports flowed in, said Mr Tizard.