Australia had no qualms about dumping NZ over ANZUS
Updated at 4:45 am on 2 January 2013
Newly released documents show Australia had no qualms about dumping New Zealand in favour of the United States when the ANZUS military alliance broke down in the mid 1980s.
The information came to light in the release of cabinet papers from 1984 - 1985 in Canberra.
The ANZUS alliance collapsed after 34 years when New Zealand barred American nuclear ships from its ports.
The cabinet papers show Australia's Labor government at the time was deeply concerned at the breakdown and blamed New Zealand for the trouble.
The documents say Australia's relationship with New Zealand was important, but links with the United States dominated Australian security and defence planning.
Australia pledged to continue links with the United States without New Zealand involvement.
Copyright © 2013, Radio New Zealand
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