Talk:Anzac class frigate

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Contents 1 Cost 2 New Zealand frigates 3 Citation attempt 4 Factual flaws

[edit] Cost

I think the cost should be mentioned. I heard on Deutsche Welle radio that the deal to germany was worth 1bio NZ$ PER SHIP at the time the decision was made by Tizard. As the VERY SAME TIME on New Zealand radio they first told us 350mio NZD, then 450, then 650... and then we stopped counting. Most people were opposed, it was rammed down our thoats with no proper consultation. Why protect Australian economic imperialism? There is a Westpac Bank in most pacific islands, determining the local money supply / undermining sovereignty, leading to conflicts and murder as we have seen in Solomons, PNG and a few other places. 124.197.26.162 09:12, 27 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] New Zealand frigates

This section needs some NPOVing, particularly in regards to the attitudes of Australian defence officials. As I understand it, the view that the New Zealand defence force should basically become a unit of the Australian one in the event of direct attack is based on geography; unless you're the United States and can sail a carrier battle group straight across the Pacific, the only way to attack New Zealand is through Australian and south Pacific waters, in which Australia is the dominant military power. Hence, Australia is defending New Zealand anyway, so New Zealand should chip in and contribute with some military muscle of their own.

Personally, I can see a reasonable argument that New Zealand is in one of the most benign strategic environments on Earth, so why waste their money on an unnecessary military, but I think the characterisation of the Australian defence view is a little unfair.

In any case, unless this can be sourced a little better it should be severely pruned. --Robert Merkel 11:45, 7 February 2006 (UTC)

Hmmm, there may be some POV in the article - defensive POV from Australians as well, regarding the cumbersome use of pressure to sell the frigates which backfired. There is also much POV in the above comment that illustrates the unproductive Australain approach that marred the frigate transaction - to give a Kiwi POV back, there seemed to be a belief that New Zealand's main defence concern is invasion, when all New Zealand actions since the 1860s have been fought outside Australasia, and usually a long way outside, a belief that any invasion threat would be the threat to Australia, (when all parties have always conducted defence at a rather greater distance than just Australia and involving rather more allies than just Australia), a belief that any threat to Australia was a threat to New Zealand, (when New Zealand enjoys more amicable relations with much of the planet - the feeling at the time was that association with Australia's foreign and defence policy can easily be a liability likely to provoke attack, rather than defend against it - and after Howards spineless behaviour over the tragic farce of WMD and Iraq, I have to agree there is something to that argument), and even if all of those problems are forgotten and our main defence concern was some non-exisentent short range south East Asian invasion force coming after NZ, there seems to be a willingness to overlook the possibility of using an island as a stepping stone instead of Australia. Look closer at that map - the nearest nation to New Zealand is France.  :-).

In fact there is no reason to assume command of NZ forces will be passed to Australia - rather than, when it has happened in the past to the UK, US, or UN - really only in Timor has NZ worked under Australia - and the only reason for equipment commonality is because we may work together because we tend to have similar views and interests - like East Timor - but given that Australia is, on the world stage - almost as insignificant as NZ, commonlity with the majority of likely allies in Europe or the US is just more practical, just because there will probably be more of them round in any conflict.

Consequently an Australian expressing a view that New Zealand's prime defence goal should be to become a part of Australias defence force, is considered by the NZ public to be um, not only arrogantly daft but self defeating. (I remember hearing a satarist suggest that since New Zealand is a more defensible size than Australia, and is far more inhabitable, all Australian defence thinking should be about how to defend New Zealand after the hopelessly large desert island to our North West is inevitably overun :-).

Certainly as it has been presented in the media in New Zealand, Australian politicans were shown undertaking frankly bullying activity to sell vessels that were vastly more expensive than other options (US near new more capable bargin basement surplus frigates). Of course this media coverage was probably biased to trying to manufacture a scandal - but having seen Australian media portrayal of NZ defence in Melbourne, the Aussie media were certainly not unwilling to let facts get in the way of simplistic Kiwi bashing on defence.

The best that could be said about it is the Australian sales pitch was so heavy handed and short on research it provoked a media and public reaction that made it politically impossible for mainstream New Zealand political parties to purchase a third or fourth ANZAC frigate. (Incidentally once we were stuck with them I would have favoured getting a third frigate - never mind).

My wasn't that a long rant :-) Winstonwolfe 10:25, 13 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Citation attempt

Hi, I've added a reference to a RAN page which contains the same information -- my first attempt to add a reference, so go easy. Let me know if it's not OK. Kierenj 09:23, 16 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Factual flaws

New Zealand's SH-2Gs and Australia's are oversimplified here. Australia is heavily rebuilding its SH-2Gs to a new standard, not merely using second-hand aircraft.

Also discussion of Green Party policy in the late 1980s is problematic. Opposition came from multiple parties especially Labour. Labour was opposed to the frigates full stop.

There are three phases: 1996/1997 defence review - decision to move to a 3-frigate fleet (possibly third to be a Perry-class ship from Aus) 1998 - decision to delay the third Anzac (Winston's revenge!) 2001 - decision not to get a third frigate but get the MRV etc.

Zhivana 01:16, 17 August 2006 (UTC)