Leopard Tanks

Mr Baldwin asked the Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, in writing, on 7 September 2009:

1. Have all of Australia’s Leopard Tanks been decommissioned; if so, when was the last Leopard Tank decommissioned; if not, as at 7 September 2009, how many were decommissioned, and when will the last tank be decommissioned.
2. What method of disposal will be used for decommissioned Leopard Tanks.
3. As at 7 September 2009, how many decommissioned Leopard Tanks had been (a) allocated, and (b) delivered, to a Returned and Services League (RSL) branch.
4. What was the cost of (a) decommissioning each tank, and (b) delivering each tank to the respective RSL branch.
5. What was the cost to each RSL branch selected to receive a decommissioned Leopard Tank.
6. Can RSL branches still apply for ownership of decommissioned Leopard Tanks; if so, to whom should applications be made.

Mr Combet - The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

1. As at 7 September 2009, 18 Leopard tanks have been partly decommissioned with all fluids drained, power pack removed, main gun rendered innocuous and classified items removed.  It is anticipated decommissioning of all tanks will be completed by the end of 2011.
2. The extent of decommissioning on each tank will depend on the intended disposal category. In line with the Disposal Plan that was originally approved by the then Minister for Defence, Dr Brendan Nelson MP, and subsequently endorsed by this Government, the Leopard fleet of 103 vehicles will be disposed of as follows:
   
   

   Disposal Category	Qty
   Defence - targets on Army and RAAF ranges	26
   Veterans Organisations - for display	30
   Military museums - for display	14
   Defence - displays on defence sites	27
   Defence - for use in recovery training	3
   Defence - other training	3

3. (a) 30 tanks have been allocated to RSL branches and other veteran and historical organisations in line with the announcement made by Dr Nelson on 14 November 2007 and (b) none have been delivered.
4. (a) The decommissioning cost of each tank is in the range $10,000 to $30,000 depending on the disposal category.  (b) No tanks have been delivered to RSLs.
5. RSL branches have not received a decommissioned tank to date.
6. The previous Government invited expressions of interest from the public for decommissioned Leopard tanks.  The closing date was 12 October 2007.  Approximately 315 expressions of interest were received for the 30 tanks available for gifting.  No new applications are being considered.

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