The Australian government is reportedly auctioning off decommissioned military vehicles despite them being keenly sought by Ukraine.
Some of the Australian Army’s obsolete patrol vehicles, troop carriers, and Land Rovers are on eBay-style auction websites, inviting “off-road enthusiasts” to place their bids, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
The phrase “there’s a vehicle to suit every adventure” can be seen in the postings to promote the military-grade products.
According to local reports, a long-range patrol vehicle used by the Special Air Services in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars was sold for 113,000 Australian dollars ($77,246).
These vehicles are now reportedly being used for camping, off-road driving, and commercial purposes.
“The Australian government would rather auction off military equipment than offer it to Ukraine,” retired army major-general Mick Ryan wrote on X. “A story of parsimony and mean spiritedness towards a country in need… Shameful!”
‘A Default Position’
Australia’s Senate committee on foreign affairs and defense has urged the government to establish a “default position” for handling its decommissioned military assets.
The committee suggests that defense materiel being retired or disposed of should be automatically gifted to Ukraine unless there is a “compelling case.”
Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organizations co-chair Kateryna Argyrou said it was a “short-sighted and baffling” move to see retired military equipment being sold online when they could be useful for Ukraine on the battlefield.
“Ukrainian soldiers are outnumbered, exhausted and working with whatever they are given, so it’s upsetting that this equipment hasn’t been considered for Ukraine,” she lamented. “Our community is in touch with frontline troops every day, who tell us these ex-ADF platforms are exactly what they need.”
In addition to adopting a “default position,” the committee is calling for the re-opening of an Australian embassy in Kyiv to oversee military aid.
Support for Ukraine
Despite the controversy, the Australian government maintains its “unwavering support” for Ukraine, having donated over $1.1 billion in military aid since the invasion began in February 2022.
In July, it announced its “largest military aid” package to Ukraine, totaling 250 million Australian dollars ($168.5 million), which includes air defense missiles, anti-tank weapons, and guided weapons.
The Australian defense industry has also committed to helping the war-torn nation with EOS Defence Systems expressing its interest in launching arms production in Kyiv.