Peters annoys colleagues

Press, 8 September 1989, Page 1

Peters annoys colleagues

By

BRENDON BURNS

Mr Winston Peters annoyed his National Party colleagues by adding his weight yesterday to the'criticism of the Anzac ship deal. In a. move which stunned his colleagues, Mr Peters, the Opposition spokesman on employment, said the frigate purchase represented the “Australianisation” of New Zealand. He said it could not be justified on the ground of cost and was “economic and social lunacy.” His comments, while clashing with his party’s, were echoed by the leader of the New Labour Party, Mr Jim Anderton.

Mr Anderton said the purchase showed that New Zealand no longer had full control over its economic and political destiny. “We have now been drawn into a new military-industrial sector which will primarily produce jobs in Australia,” he said. The result would be betrayal of Labour’s non-nuclear policy. The Labour Party president, Ms Ruth Dyson, said party members would be disappointed at the decision to buy Anzac frigates. But a return to nuclear-ship visits would never happen under a Labour government, she said. The Labour Party’s consultative committee on foreign affairs

and security said the Australian Prime Minister, Mr Hawke, had frightened the Palmer Government with his threats. The committee’s two chairpersons, Ms Kate Boanas and Mr Chris Tremewan, both of Christchurch, said the decision was illconsidered. The No Frigates campaign said it was appalling the Government allowed its defence policy to be dictated from Canberra. Just Defence said it was clear that extra costs had been hidden in the deal to make the price look more attractive. Further reports, page 4 P.M.’s statement, page 8