MPs who are former members of the NZDF had plenty to say when the first reading of the Inspector-General Defence Bill got underway.
Last night as the clock ran down on 10pm in the debating chamber, a succession of ex-military MPs took calls to speak.
They were responding to the Defence Minister Peni Henare who presented his Inspector General Defence Bill for its first reading.
"This Government is committed to implementing the recommendations of the Inquiry into Operation Burnham. That is why I endorse the establishment of an Inspector-General of Defence (IGD) to provide independent oversight for the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF)," Henare said.
"In undertaking their inquiry into the August 2010 Operation Burnham in Afghanistan and related matters, Sir Terence Arnold and Sir Geoffrey Palmer identified that the actions of the New Zealand Special Air Service (NZSAS) on the ground were professional and lawful but there were shortcomings, and they identified those and that the NZDF needed these matters to be dealt with. Having an office which has the necessary powers and authority to look into such matters in future is essential.
"It is essential not only to ensure additional independent scrutiny is available but also to provide an independent avenue for the dedicated men and women who are asked to protect Aotearoa and our interests. The Operation Burnham inquiry found there was a failure to provide full, timely, and accurate information to Ministers."
The inquiry into New Zealand special forces operations in Afghanistan in 2010 found deficiencies in how the Defence Force dealt with civilian casualties. One of the recommendations resulting from the inquiry was that an office of the Independent Inspector-General of Defence (located outside the NZDF organisational structure) be established. Hence this Bill.
But the National MP and ex-army servicemen Tim van der Molen argued there wasn't a need for the new position to be established, saying there were safeguards already in place.
He said that "what we have seen since that inquiry came out is that, in my mind, NZDF have moved quite quickly to implement a new series of processes to look at ensuring that there can be no issues arising".
"Off the back of this inquiry that found no wrongdoing from our personnel on the ground but some issues within the senior leadership of NZDF-and I will acknowledge that-there have been subsequent changes made.
"On that basis, we have decided-in the National Party-not to support this bill, because, actually, we don't see that there is a strong enough need for an Inspector-General of Defence at a time like we are facing right now."…