Action Alert - REVERSAL ON THIRD FRIGATE DECISION ?

Peace Movement Aotearoa

Kia ora,

well folks, sorry to bother you all again with another alert re the third ANZAC class frigate decision, but hey - this has to be one of the most frequently made decisions which is then overturned, then reversed etc. As you may have heard rumours are abounding once more that the last third frigate decision (ie that we weren�t having one) may be reversed at a Cabinet meeting - possibly as early as next Monday, so if you don�t like this idea, you will need to act NOW !

At the moment Max Bradford, fervent supporter of three or more frigates, is across the Tasman meeting with Australian defence officials; it is likely that he will return with even greater enthusiasm for the purchase, and probable that he will have been offered further bribes, inducements and possibly even threats to ensure the NZ government goes along with the US / Australian line that we need more frigates.

If you do not agree, you must make your views known immediately - there is a minority government in parliament and they need to be told very clearly that a third frigate is the last thing the country needs.

They are also particularly vulnerable to criticism over spending priorities - with people dying while they wait for even minor health care in hospitals, it is obscene for them to even be contemplating this purchase again. Even if the frigate is offered to the government at a �bargain basement price� because of the Australian desperation to keep their defence industry going, it is unlikely to be less than $350 million basic cost, a sum which could go a fair way to alleviate some of the problems with access to health care, or education and so on. The �bargain basement price� will also raise questions about why the government paid $575 million (basic cost) each for the last two ...

We are sure you all have lots of arguments against buying a third frigate - if you would like more information then please refer to our last frigate alert (21 Sept 98) which was posted / faxed / emailed to you all; this alert is also on our website and further copies can be obtained by contacting the PMA office.

What you can do

1. Contact Cabinet Ministers, they need to know there is considerable opposition to the purchase :
   1. you can do this either by addressing a fax to them all collectively and sending it to the Cabinet Office : tel (04) 471-9743; fax: (04) 472-3181/6332; or faxing them individually - a list of their fax numbers (and email addresses) follows; it would be particularly useful to put pressure on Tau Henare (as leader of the new Mauri Pacific party which is currently formulating policy, and is therefore highly responsive to public pressure and seeking media attention);
   2. emailing Cabinet Ministers - this is generally believed to be less effective than a fax, but all their email addresses are included in the list below. If there is a problem getting your email through, then you should contact Ministerial IT (MINIT) at
2. Contact those MPs whose support the government requires to stay in power :
   Anne Batten has said she is opposed to the purchase; Richard Prebble says he is opposed to the decision being made without him being consulted ... there is an opportunity to pressure these MPs to make it clear that they will not support the government unless the third frigate option is scuppered once and for all !
   Ann Batten (Independent) - fax 04 471 2414, tel 04 470 6699; Neil Kirton (Independent) - tel 04 470 6682; Deborah Morris (Independent) fax 04 471 1443, tel 04 471 9977; Peter Dunne (United) - fax 04 499 7266, tel 04 471 9490; Christine Fletcher (National) - fax 04 473 0469, tel 04 471 9492; Alamein Kopu (Independent) - tel 04 470 6652; Rana Waitai (Independent) - fax 04 472 7751, tel 04 470 6689; Robyn McDonald (NZ First) - fax 04 473 7504, tel 04 471 9959; Richard Prebble (ACT) - fax 04 473 3532, tel 470 6638.
3. �Fax / email the editors of the nationally distributed newspapers :
   Contacts for the nationally distributed papers are : Christchurch Press, fax (03) 364 8492, [email protected]; Dominion, fax (04) 4740257; Evening Post, fax; (04) 474 0237, [email protected]; Herald, fax (09) 373 6434; Sunday Star Times, fax (09) 309 0258.

CONTACTS FOR CABINET MINISTERS

• Jenny Shipley, Prime Minister, fax 04 473 7045; [email protected]
• Wyatt Creech, Deputy P. M., fax 04 471 2936; [email protected]
• Bill Birch,Treasurer, Minister Of Finance, fax 04 473 3587;[email protected]
• John Luxton, Minister For Food, Fibre, Biosecurity And Border Control, fax 04 472 1122; [email protected]
• Bill English, Minister Of Health, Assoc. Treasurer, fax 04 473 7614; [email protected]
• Max Bradford, Minister For Enterprise And Commerce, fax 04 471 1440; [email protected]
• Roger Sowry, Minister Of Social Services, Work And Income, fax 04 473 3698; [email protected]
• Tau Henare, Minister Of Maori Affairs, fax 04 471 2930; [email protected]
• Nick Smith, Minister Of Conservation, fax 04 473 6118; [email protected]
• Doug Graham, Attorney-General, fax 04 471 2922; [email protected]
• Murray McCully, Minister Of Tourism, Housing NZ, ACC, fax 04 499 4544; tourism@ ministers.govt.nz
• Tony Ryall, Minister For SOEs, fax 04 472 2376; [email protected]
• Maurice Williamson, Minister Of Transport, fax 04 472 7095; [email protected]
• Don McKinnon, Minister Of Foreign Affairs And Trade, fax 04 471 1444; [email protected]
• Dr Lockwood Smith, Minister For International Trade, fax 04 471 2918; [email protected]
• Simon Upton, Minister For The Environment, fax 04 471 2913; [email protected]
• Georgina Te Heuheu, Minister For Courts, Women�s Affairs, fax 04 499 3804; [email protected]

CONTACTS FOR MINISTERS OUTSIDE CABINET

• Tuariki John Delamere, Minister Of Immigration, Pacific Island Affairs, fax 04 473 3207; [email protected]
• David Carter, Minister For Senior Citizens, Assoc. Minister Of Revenue, fax 04 473 7504; [email protected]
• Jack Elder, Minister Of Internal Affairs, fax 04 473 3446; [email protected]
• Marie Hasler, Minister Of Cultural Affairs, fax 04 471 1443; [email protected]
• Peter McCardle, Minister Of Business Development, Assoc. Minister Of Social Services, Work And Income, fax 04 471 2907; [email protected]