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Australia confident on defence ties with NZ

ADELAIDE: Australia said on Monday it was not worried about defence ties with New Zealand after a decision by the new Labor-led government in Wellington to review its F-16 fighter jet deal with the United States.

"Whether they go ahead with the F-16 or not, that's a matter for New Zealand," Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer told a news conference after his first official meeting with New Zealand counterpart Phil Goff.

"It is not something that worries us," Downer said.

"The new government in New Zealand is going to be a government that we will do very good business with and I look forward to working with them," he said.

Downer said Australia was confident that New Zealand would continue to make a credible contribution to regional security and was not considering cutting back on defence spending. Goff had reassured him on both counts, he said.

"I am completely confident New Zealand will maintain a meaningful contribution," he said after talks he described as "warm and friendly".

The New Zealand government said late last year it would review a decision by the previous centre-right government to acquire 28 second-hand F-16 aircraft from the U.S Air Force, prompting some concerns about future relations with Australia, given the close defence ties between the Pacific neighbours.

Goff said the review was to ensure that New Zealand's defence funds were being spent properly.

"It is intended to examine the prioritisation of New Zealand defence expenditure, it is not intended to be a cost cutting exercise," he said.

Goff, who visited East Timor last week, said New Zealand's soldiers were using transport planes, Iroquois helicopters and armoured personnel carriers, areas of expenditure which were subject to neglect in the past.

"I'm not sure that anybody up there mentioned to me that F-16s were something that might have contributed in that theatre," he said of New Zealand's contribution to the multinational INTERFET force in East timor."

Goff ruled out involving Australia in a review of the F-16 decision, but said New Zealand would consider joint security.

"I think the review is a matter for New Zealand, but clearly we take into account aspects such as how the two armed forces cooperate and the inter-operability of the two armed forces," he said.-Reuters