New Zealand Government, Hon Mark Burton: New Zealand's role in the global Defence community: RSA National Council meeting
New Zealand's role in the global Defence community: RSA National Council meeting
Clearly, the security of both New Zealand and our region-particularly in today's global environment-must actively involve more agencies than just Defence.
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Outgoing President David Cox, incoming President John Campbell, Chief Executive Pat Herbert, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen-good morning.
It's a pleasure to be with you again this year at your National Council meeting, to discuss New Zealand's role as part of the international Defence community.
I'd like to take a moment to acknowledge Dave's fine leadership over these past years, as well as the excellent work of Colin Topp and the Executive Members.
John, congratulations on your new role. I look forward to continuing a positive working relationship with you on behalf of your membership.
Singapore
I have just returned from a six-day trip to Singapore, where I attended the International Institute of Strategic Studies Asia Security Conference (IISS), a Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) Ministerial meeting, and had an official bilateral visit with the Singaporean Minister of Defence.
Singapore is one of New Zealand's most important regional Defence partners. We have long had a high tempo of bilateral visits between our two countries, and our respective Defence Forces frequently take part in joint military exercises.
As I am sure you are aware, our Defence relationship is underpinned by the Five Powers Defence Arrangement, which also includes Australia, the United Kingdom, and Malaysia. Since its beginnings in 1971, the FPDA has made a significant contribution to the security of the Asia-Pacific region.
Today, it continues to evolve to meet the challenges posed by the current global security environment.
The Asia-Pacific security environment certainly is changing rapidly.
At IISS, there was strong emphasis on the increasing need to focus on non-conventional threats: terrorism, maritime and border security, people and drug smuggling, and money laundering.
Only last week, the biggest methamphetamine lab in the Southern Hemisphere was discovered in Fiji-right in our backyard. This truly brought home the fact that distance on its own no longer affords protection from destabilising elements. Clearly, the security of both New Zealand and our region-particularly in today's global environment-must actively involve more agencies than just Defence.
It is dependent on gathering and sharing intelligence efficiently with our defence partners, as well as on clear communication and cooperation across a wide range of non-military agencies.
Multi-agency Budget Support
Budget 2004 allocates significant funding for this multi-agency approach to security.
Police funding of $70.2 million over four years to strengthen national security capability is one excellent example. This includes $39 million to crack down on organised crime and methamphetamine producers, and $14.8 million to form dedicated national security teams.
Budget 2004 also includes $5 million of Customs funding, to enable closer scrutiny of arriving commercial ships, crews, and air passengers. This package includes a new Passenger Analysis Unit that will analyse advanced passenger information received from airlines. This unit will enable Customs to identify people that could indicate risks to New Zealand, such as drug smuggling. Work on further security projects is ongoing.
And of course, I am particularly proud of our ongoing direct investments in NZDF personnel. Budget 2004 allocates $20 million a year for their fourth pay rise in as many years, with an additional $16 million a year to develop and maintain effective manning levels in the Air Force.
Project Protector: a multi-agency acquisition process
This multi-agency approach to security is well illustrated by Project Protector, the $500 million investment which will provide the Navy with new purpose-built ships, including a new multi-role vessel to replace the ageing frigate Canterbury, and off-shore and in-shore patrol vessels.
These ships will allow the Navy to patrol our EEZ more effectively, working in partnership with other agencies, in their task of protecting our borders-one of the most important security roles in today's global environment-as well as undertaking tactical sealift and disaster relief in the Pacific, and fisheries protection.
When Defence was defining the Navy's new fleet requirements, it worked actively with a number of other agencies to find out what they needed for surface patrol of New Zealand's EEZ.
Consultations were held with MFAT, the Ministry of Fisheries, Customs, Treasury, the Maritime Safety Authority, and the Police, among others.
As a result of these consultations, our $500 million Defence investment in Project Protector will enhance not only New Zealand's military security, but also the security of our borders, our fisheries, our biosecurity, and a host of other areas. In turn, it also greatly enhances our ability to provide support and assistance to our Pacific neighbours in times of civil emergency and natural disaster, thus increasing our ability to contribute to the safety and security of our region.
Of course this multi-agency approach is not a revelation to any of us, but Projector Protector shows clearly how Defence, when appropriately planned in concert with other agencies, fits into a larger framework-an idea which is clearly reflected in our role in global defence.
IISS and FPDA
You may be interested to know that, alongside the formal IISS programme, I had a series of successful bilateral meetings, including:
