12 June 2002

National Leader Bill English has today announced that Richard Worth is the new spokesperson for the Defence portfolio.

"Former Defence Minister Max Bradford will retire from politics this election.

"I would like to thank Max for his strong advocacy of the defence of this nation both as a Minister of Defence and as a spokesperson. There has never been any doubt that he regarded the defence of a nation as a sovereign duty of Government and he has been a consistent advocate for it.

"We are fortunate to have Richard Worth, who has a depth of knowledge about defence, to take over as spokesperson.

"I am so pleased that we can hand the portfolio from an experienced Minister to a spokesperson who has a long experience and good knowledge of the defence forces.

Mr Worth joined the Royal New Zealand Navy Volunteer Reserve in 1967 and was later promoted to the rank of captain. He held the positions of Chief of Naval Reserves and Naval Staff, and specialised in navigation. He commanded a number of patrol vessels off the New Zealand coast on fishery protection duties and served on the Navy's frigates in the South Pacific for a time.

Mr Worth, a lawyer, was elected Epsom MP in 1999.

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