Carter John: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Carter John: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:619;Page:15243] 
11.  
JOHN CARTER (National—Northland) 
 to the  
Minister of Defence 
: Is he satisfied with the performance outcomes in the New Zealand Defence Force Annual Report 2003/2004; if so why? 
Hon MARK BURTON (Minister of Defence) 
: 
 I believe that good progress is being made and in many areas performance specifications were exceeded. But I do agree with the former National defence spokesperson Richard Worth that the Defence Force is still recovering from the impacts of what he stated was “nine years of neglect [which] had seen the NZDF perilously low in capability and short of the funds to correct this”. He was talking about the 1990s. 
John Carter 
: How can the Minister be satisfied when our naval combat land combat naval support and land combat support forces all note training and inter-operability inadequacies to the extent that many of them acknowledge that in general they are not prepared for higher-threat situations outside of the New Zealand – Pacific region? 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: As I said good progress is being made but I would refer the member to the 1997 report after 6 years of National in Government which among many other concerns—[ 
Interruption 
] This is the 1997 report— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Would the member come to the point. 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: The situation was below or not achieving “MLOC” which is the minimum level of operational capability in respect of land-combat support elements combat control communication systems long-range maritime patrol force and diving teams. This was a much worse situation. It takes years to fix the mess that Tories leave. 
John Carter 
: In light of the fact that it is 5 years since this Minister became the Minister of Defence does he not think that he could have at least provided our forces with tents camouflage nets or radios that according to the annual report our land combat forces are short of? 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: That member really does need to do his homework. This Government supplied $120 million worth of communications assistance. The member asked about communications. He stood at Waiouru holding the antiquated equipment with which his Government deployed our troops. This Government has replaced that with state-of-the-art equipment. Mr Carter should get up with the facts. 
Tim Barnett 
: In what other ways do the 2003-04 performance outcomes for the Defence Force compare with those reported in any previous annual report? 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: As I mentioned before when I look at the 1996-97 report after 6 years of National in defence the situation was “MLOC” which is the minimum level of operational capability and I really want to emphasise that. This compares a whole range of capabilities that were below minimum standard. This compares with this year’s report in which there were no output classes below the minimum “MLOC” requirement. Seven years ago it was reported that limitations on deployment existed due to equipment deficiencies particularly—and I want Mr Carter to listen to this—in areas of mobility communications and fire power. This Government has addressed all three of those issues. 
John Carter 
: In light of the acknowledged personnel and training issues in the annual report does the Minister believe that he will have sufficient numbers of personnel at sufficient levels of training capability to man the equipment purchased by the Government such as the 105 light armoured vehicles and the Project Protector fleet; if not what are the estimated costs of that equipment sitting around while the personnel are found to use them? 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: The member cannot have it both ways. Now he is complaining that this Government is doing too much for defence. I have confidence in the Chief of Defence Force and the service chiefs with their recruitment and retention policies and with the money that this Government has pumped into pay and conditions. That lot had one Government-funded pay rise in 9 years. We have done four in four Budgets. That member should do his homework and read the back annual reports. 
John Carter 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Would you ask the Minister to address the question please. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I thought that the Minister did address the question in far too lengthy a task.