5. DIANNE YATES (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Defence
What contribution has New Zealand made to the multinational effort to clear cluster munitions in Lebanon?
Hon PHIL GOFF (Minister of Defence) Link to this
Over the last 12 months the New Zealand Defence Force has done an outstanding job in clearing nearly a third of a million square metres of land in southern Lebanon and destroying more than 1,800 unexploded cluster bombs and munitions. But, just as importantly, New Zealand is one of the seven countries leading preventive action aimed at banning the use of cluster munitions, which cause unacceptable harm to civilians. This week we are hosting the largest ever disarmament conference, here in Wellington, which aims to progress towards a treaty against the use of cluster munitions.
What have New Zealand’s actions meant for the people in Lebanon and beyond who have suffered from the use of cluster munitions?
The work of the New Zealand Defence Force has meant that people living in the area cleared by the Defence Force can go about their daily lives, without the worry that they or their children will be killed or maimed by unexploded munitions. More widely, the initiatives taken by New Zealand and other countries towards a treaty against the use of cluster munitions have the potential, in future, to protect and save the lives of thousands of civilians who might otherwise be casualties.
The hope is that the 122 countries attending the conference here in Wellington will make progress towards agreement that will lead to the negotiation of a treaty, in Dublin in May, that bans cluster munitions, which have unacceptable effects on civilian populations. We hope, basically, that this treaty will do what the Ottawa Convention did to landmines—that is, get a large number of people to sign up to dispose of, and not use, cluster munitions, and have even those countries that are not part of the process feel that the stigma is such that they will no longer use cluster munitions.
Keith LockeI seek leave to table a table from the New Zealand Superannuation Fund, showing a $21 million investment in cluster bomb manufacturer, Lockheed Martin.
Madam SPEAKERI seek leave to table a document from the Norwegian Government Pension Fund, showing that it has disinvested in eight manufacturers of cluster bombs.