While everything else gets a cutback and we have a financial and social crisis we meet what the Empire requires of us.
NZ Defence Force to get $20bn upgrade
The
government will spend $20 billion on the Defence Force in a long-term
investment plan that includes a new cyber security system for defence
networks.
The
$20bn spend outlined in the White Paper will be spread over 15
years. Photo: NZDF
8
June, 2016
A
new White Paper, which updates the Defence Force's policy, was
released this morning.
It
detailed plans to replace the Air Force Boeing 757, the
C130-Hercules, the Orion maritime patrol aircraft and the ANZAC
frigates, over the next 15 years.
It
also said work was well under way to consider whether the existing
Light Armoured Vehicles might be modernised, or replaced.
The
plan allows for the replacement or review of the Defence Force's
aircraft, frigates and Light Armoured Vehicles. Photo: NZDF
While
New Zealand did not face the prospect of an imminent military attack,
there were growing threats as a result of failing states and pressure
on food and water resources, the paper said.
Prime
Minister John Key said the new policy was being launched at a time of
"increasing uncertainty and instability in the international
environment".
"The
emergence of ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant), heightened
tensions in the East and South China seas, increases in military
spending across South East Asia, and the rapid evolution and spread
of cyber threats are just a few examples," he said.
New
Zealand's geographical isolation did not provide the protection it
once did, Mr Key said.
"As
a maritime nation dependent on open trade routes, our security and
prosperity is inextricably linked to events occurring far from our
shores.
"New
Zealand needs a defence force than can protect New Zealand and also
contribute to international security and stability," he said.
Prime
Minister John Key presents the White Paper at
Parliament Photo: RNZ/Rebekah
Parsons-King
This
included responding to activities in New Zealand's Exclusive Economic
Zone, Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, Mr Key said.
Cyber
security was also identified as a major new risk, and a new defence
cyber support network would be developed.
More
intelligence personnel would be hired to help analyse and distribute
information collected from гsurveillance.
The
paper noted demand for disaster relief and and recovery efforts in
the South Pacific would increase in coming decades.
Cyber attacks 'as effective a weapon as a bomb'
The
White Paper noted increasing reliance on technology and information
was creating "new vulnerabilities".
The
threat to systems relying on networked technologies had increased
"markedly" since 2010, it said.
"New
Zealand therefore has an interest in contributing to international
cyberspace and space efforts to protect this infrastructure from
being exploited or disrupted."
Defence
Minister Gerry Brownlee would not give specific details about the
resourcing for the boosted cyber security system, as that had not yet
been determined.
Defence
Minister Gerry Brownlee also spoke at the paper's
presentation. Photo: RNZ/Rebekah
Parsons-King
"But
it will be a significant number of people who are deployed into the
armed forces or from the armed forces who will specialise in, to a
greater extent, in this sort of deterrent."
Mr
Brownlee said cyber weapons were now significant, as evidenced by the
reliance of individuals on a multitude of technologies.
"Now
you can multiply that across a whole economy, or a whole set of
economies and see what the potential might be to turn an attack on
that - we all know about this - cyber attacks into an effective a
weapon as a bomb.
"So
it's a much wider concept than just saying it's to protect, or it's
to attack - we need to know what other people are up to, particularly
in a military sense."
When
asked how closely the Government Communications Security Bureau would
be involved, Mr Brownlee said there would be a "high level of
co-operation".
Maritime threats and illegal fishing
As
activity in New Zealand's waters increased, the White Paper warned
incidents that required a New Zealand response were more likely to
occur.
It
said the size, intrinsic value and challenges associated with
managing the country's large maritime domain underlined the
significance of maritime threats to New Zealand.
The
White Paper highlighted the Defence Force's activities and
responsibilities in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. Photo: NZDF
New
Zealand had a direct interest in the stability of Antarctica and the
Southern Ocean, including its preservation, and the Defence Force
must continue to monitor illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing,
the paper said.
Mr
Brownlee said illegal fishing came at a great cost to the country.
"Illegal
fishing is one of the things that troubles us the most. It is an
attack on our economy.
"Similarly
throughout the Pacific when you have unregulated fishing in some of
our Pacific neighbours, that is also an attack on their economy and
comes at a cost to us and our partner nations," Mr Brownlee
said.
The
White Paper also raised concerns about escalating tensions in the
East and South China seas.
Over
half of the country's maritime trade passed through the South China
Sea, and the paper predicted that, over the coming decades, it was
likely to remain a contested environment.
There
would be serious implications for trade routes, and New Zealand's
ability to service markets, should major instability occur in the
region, it said.
"A
secure maritime environment is vital to ensure our continued
prosperity through maritime trade, as it is estimated that 99 percent
of New Zealand's exports and imports are delivered by sea transport,"
Chief of the Defence Force Lieutenant General Tim Keating said.
"We
just can't leave maritime security responsibilities to others without
having a credible contribution ourselves," he said.
Funding not broken down
A
$20bn price tag over the next 15 years would be needed to implement
the plan, but the White Paper did not contain a specific breakdown of
costs.
Mr
Key said the money would have to be appropriated through the normal
budget process.
"So
Budget 2016 had the forecast period where there was some obviously
increase but also base allocation for [the Defence Force].
"Secondly,
there is some that can be funded through their depreciation allowance
but over time, future budgets will have to make bigger allowances,
both capital and operating, for Defence's capability."
The
level of military spending was justified, Mr Key said.
"Well,
firstly, it's over a long period of time... Secondly, if you look at
our spending at about 1.1 percent of GDP, it's at the more modest end
of spending when nations allocate resources towards our military
capability."
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