Hayes John: Defence Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Hayes John: Defence Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:678;Page:858] 
JOHN HAYES (National—Wairarapa) 
: 
 That was the “Minister of Profligate Spending”. That was the member who is complaining about 1200 people leaving the Ministry of Defence although more than 12000 people left the Labour Party before this last election. That was the member who used to be Minister of Defence and what value did you add to that process? 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: Order! You mentioned me when you were addressing. Would you please refrain from bringing the Speaker into the debate. 
JOHN HAYES 
: This bill the Defence Amendment Bill comes from a process initiated by my very good friend Dr Wayne Mapp. 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: Come on “Sir Les”. 
JOHN HAYES 
: He knew Mr Cosgrove when to leave this House and he did it when he was a member of Parliament not a list member of Parliament. During Dr Mapp’s tenure he initiated the first defence white paper in about 10 years. He was prepared to try to balance the Government’s policy objectives the strategic outlook with what we as a small country with a smaller population than Sydney can afford. 
In my previous life as a diplomat there were many occasions when I worked directly with the Ministry of Defence over many years. We worked with the army with the navy with the air force. We took goods to Bangladesh we took materials to the Solomon Islands I worked with them in Singapore and Malaysia and we worked with them during the conflict between Papua New Guinea and Bougainville and again on the Solomon Islands. I came to trust and value and highly regard our defence personnel and I am really proud that this National-led Government is absolutely committed to making sure that the New Zealand military is a strong and effective force. 
The white paper came from the perspective of ensuring that defence contributed to a safe and secure New Zealand—defence contributed to our safe and secure direction. The paper assumed we were operating in the environment of international order which respects international law and order. We assumed we would be able to work with a network of strong international linkages around a sound global economy surrounded by open trade routes. There have been occasions in our history when in a violent world the use of force is appropriate. Examples of those circumstances include a response—for example if we had a direct threat against New Zealand or our close ally Australia or towards a member of the Pacific Islands Forum or if requested or mandated by the United Nations to contribute to one of their exercises particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. I think that the next 25 years are likely to be much more challenging than the last and a rules-based international order is under pressure. International organisations are struggling to forge a consensus on a whole range of issues particularly on issues around boundaries. 
The other thing that is going on in this global world is that the balance of economies is changing. The threat of proliferation is growing. The South Pacific is a region of fragility. Tasks in and around New Zealand and the Pacific are the starting point for choosing the military capabilities of our military. 
This bill strengthens a one-force approach. It is key to ensuring that our three services—army navy and air force—work together under one leadership. 
We also need to keep in mind the independent value-for-money review done by Dr Roderick Deane. He has said we should look at savings that can be made in the back office and in the middle part of defence and bring resources to the front line. This bill is going to help reprioritise resources in that direction. We are going to put the right people in the right jobs. 
The bill is going to change the way in which the Secretary of Defence and the Chief of Defence Force can work together regarding procurement replacement repair and the disposal of assets. The bill is going to clarify the manner in which the Chief of Defence Force exercises command of the armed forces. It will enable the Ministry of Defence to advise the Minister on defence matters referred to it by the Minister when we set up a defence advisory board. 
I commend this bill to the House. It is a good bill and I look forward to its referral to the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee. Thank you.