New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key Smiles After the General Election in Auckland.
New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key smiles after the general election in Auckland November 26, 2011. Reuters/Stringer

The Labour Party in New Zealand has criticised the John Key Government's defence management policy. It was reacting to the new defence policy announced on Tuesday, reported Stuff.Co. Nz

The new defence policy released by Prime Minister John Key and Defence Minister Jonathon Coleman envisaged keeping open all military bases and spending $535 million in operational funding as earmarked in the budget. Criticising the National Party, Labour's defence spokesperson Phil Goff said it was sheer hypocrisy on the part of Coleman to have claimed that he valued the work of defence forces. The reality is that the forces are in deep dissatisfaction. Rising attrition rate of defence personnel is a big issue. The number of those dropping out of the forces has touched 1200 in the past six years. During that period there was only a single pay revision for defence employees.

The Auditor General report of last year also raised the matter of record attrition rates and low morale prevailing in the forces, because of the Government breaking the social contract with defence employees. The Labour spokesperson also questioned the claim of Coleman that the morale of the forces increased following the civilianisation of non-combat roles during the National regime.

Highlights

Defence minister Coleman said the National Party inherited a massive funding hole from the previous Labour Government. There was no defence strategy for 13 years, until it took over. Coleman claimed that the John Key Government purchased more than $1 billion in new equipment and vehicles, in the past six years. They included naval helicopters, frigate combat systems, army vehicles, SAS battle training facility.

The National Party will keep all the defence bases open, and modernise the forces. In 2010, the National Party had proposed consolidating the Central North Island defence 'hub' at Ohakea by moving Linton. Coleman retracted from the early position and said this was looked at, but the Christchurch earthquake warranted a fresh strategy and it was important to be able to deploy from anywhere in the country. Coleman also said defence force camps and bases play a crucial role in enriching regional economies. That is one more reason to keep them open, he said.