M.P.s discuss frigates with Beazley

Press, 1 September 1989, Page 6

M.P.s discuss frigates with Beazley

By BRENDON BURNS in Canberra Government members of the foreign affairs and defence Parliamentary Committee will return to Wellington with information on Anzac frigates for the Labour caucus, provided by Australia’s Minister of Defence, Mr Beazley.

The committee chairwoman, Ms Sonja Davies, said yesterday that she and her four colleagues had a pleasant meeting with Mr Beazley on Wednesday evening. Ms Davies, who opposes purchase of Anzac frigates, said her views had not created any problem with Mr Beazley or the Australian foreign affairs committee. She said her committee had discussed frigates with Mr Beazley, but this had not included details of the agreement on price hammered out with Mr Tizard and Mr Caygill.

Ms Davies said Mr Beazley had provided in-

formation which would be useful to the Labour caucus, but she would not divulge what sort of material it was. It had not changed her views against Anzac frigates, she said. Yesterday, her committee concluded three days of meetings with its Australian equivalent.

Talks included the need for closer co-operation by Australia and New Zealand in giving aid to the South Pacific.

The different approach of each country to protecting the Antarctic environment was discussed. Ms Davies said New Zealand was not opposed

to creating a world park in Antarctica but believed the protective minerals regime was a worth-while step in the interim. Defence was a top for some debate, but there was recognition of joint interests in Asia and the South Pacific.

“We part company on our anti-nuclear question,” she said.

Ms Davies said there was evidence of a shift in Australian public opinion towards New Zealand’s policy. But she said this was not widely supported by Australian Parliamentarians.