11 June 2004

Lavs: More Money Down The Drain

New Zealand First Defence Spokesman Ron Mark today echoed the concerns which dominated the front page of today’s NBR regarding the unsuitability and costs of the LAV3s.

“It is an outrage to think that after warning the government for the past several years that these LAVs were duds, we now discover that they are also causing a defense budget blowout of more than $40million.

“This is simply more money down the drain for a vehicle which can’t perform even its most basic functions.

“Adverse publicity over the LAVs has shown not only that they can’t be operated in the wet when it gets muddy, they are also a liability in the battlefield, with the Americans who are using them in Iraq labeling them ‘widow makers’, said Mr Mark

“Sadly, it seems the only thing these LAVs are capable of is getting speeding tickets on the open road as the front page of today’s Dominion Post highlights.

‘Maybe that’s why we were duped into buying them from shady overseas defence dealers in the first place – to provide expensive drag machines for defence force personnel.

“This $750million mistake will soon become a billion dollar blunder, as the blowouts continue. It must be stopped now,” said Mr Mark

ENDS

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