Minister for Defence plans to reduce spending

The Department of Defence has announced it is going to have to cut back on expenditure. Minister Michael Smith has said it is not possible to maintain level of expenditure and certain key projects are to be axed.

The Department say the past five years have seen significant acquisition of new equipment and provision of accommodation but things need to change.

Minister Smith will examine all areas of expenditure in the Department in a bid to save money, beginning with scrapping plans to purchase medium lift helicopters.