Defence strategist joins National staff

By FRANCESCA MOLD

A high-profile defence strategist who says he was hammered by the Government for his alleged links to National has been hired by the Opposition party as a senior parliamentary research officer.

Dr David Dickens, the former director of Victoria University's Centre for Strategic Studies, said National leader Bill English approached him about the job several weeks ago. He will begin work on Wednesday next week.

Dr Dickens' previous role as head of the university defence think tank was phased out after three Government departments suddenly withdrew funding for the centre, which has been operating since 1993.

The funding cut was revealed after the Government accused Dr Dickens of feeding information to the National Party, including a letter from within the Army encouraging it to lobby for funding at the expense of other Services.

That allegation was later proven to be false when the real leakers - Brigadier Ian Marshall and former Deputy Defence Secretary Robin Johansen - were identified during an investigation into the Defence Force.

Dr Dickens said yesterday that Prime Minister Helen Clark should be embarrassed about the allegations she had made with no evidence.

"That removed any respect I had for her approach."

He said he had taken a "hammering" for having an opinion that was different from that of the Government. "And we've been put out of existence for that," he said.

"My job became quite difficult last year. I felt like I was out here alone."

Dr Dickens said there had been a "significant exaggeration" about his political links.

But Labour sees his appointment as evidence of his political alignment with its foes.

Defence Minister Mark Burton, who has previously accused Dr Dickens of "blatant links" to National, said yesterday that his new position was a more accurate reflection of the role he had played in commenting on different matters during this Government's term.

Dr Dickens has previously been outspoken about his belief that more should be spent on defence and his concern about the direction of the Labour-Alliance Coalition.

When the Australian Government announced a boost in defence spending last week, Dr Dickens said it showed that our transtasman neighbour was far more serious about defence.

"We are persisting with band-aid solutions."

Dr Dickens said yesterday that he had made sure all political parties and views were included in seminars and other events hosted by the Centre for Strategic Studies.

In his new role, Dr Dickens will be responsible for researching and helping to shape National's policies in the areas of defence and external affairs, including immigration and transport issues.

He said his new job was intimidating and would be "pressure-cooker stuff" but he was excited about the change in environment and the exposure to politics.

Dr Dickens said he had not had any previous input into National's policies. He believed the party's new defence policy would be "robust, well thought out and practical".

He believed Mr English was taking National back to all that was good about the party over the past 50 years and would make an excellent Prime Minister.

The pair know each other through their wives, who went to university together.

Dr Dickens said National, under Mr English's leadership, was taking a practical, consensual approach to politics that transcended sectoral interests.

"Labour sounds good, but when you look clearly at its policies you know they don't stack up. National's policies are more practical."