Contractors for extraction of defence materiel from Afghanistan
Dear Department of Defence,
I seek documents related to discussions on how defence material is to be extracted from Afghanistan towards the transition to remove troops there by 2014.
Specifically I would like to see any correspondents relating to the extraction and repatriation of any Royal Australian Army vehicle, be it car, trunk, or tank. Documents relating to what methods have been discussed in the department and proposals for a contracting out repatriation of Australian defence materiel to private contractors.
If the department is contracting out to private providers, documents that detail whom is carrying the Royal Australian Army's materiel is also sought.
Any documents confirming previous contracting between the Department of Defence and National Air Cargo is also sought as a National Air Cargo Boeing 747-400 crashed at Bagram Airbase on the 1st February 2013, containing US military materiel, notably vehicles being repatriated from Afghanistan to the United States.
Yours faithfully,
Luke Mansillo
UNCLASSIFIED
Good afternoon
Thank you for your email below.
It has been forwarded for further action/consideration.
Kind regards
Phillip Connelly
FOI Case Officer
Freedom of Information Directorate, FOI and Information Management Branch Department of Defence
CP1-6-007 PO Box 7911 Campbell Park CANBERRA BC ACT 2610 [email address]
Tel (02) 6266 2526
UNCLASSIFIED
Good afternoon Mr Mansillo,
I write in regards to your email below, and would be most grateful if
you could provide me with a contact number so I can discuss this matter
with you.
Kind regards
Theresa Stinson
Assistant Director - Media Case Management Freedom of Information
I am currently working from the Canberra office (CP1-6-012). I can be
contacted on (02) 6266 4434 (I cannot retrieve voicemail messages from
this number).
NOTE: Alternative email: [email address]
Website:http://www.defence.gov.au/foi/index.htm
UNCLASSIFIED
Good afternoon Mr Mansillo,
Thank you for your queries regarding how materiel is to be extracted from
Afghanistan towards the transition to remove troops by 2014.
As discussed, your request was not considered valid under the FOI Act, as
you appeared to be seeking information as opposed to documents. Further
to our discussion, I provide the following response, outside of the FOI
Act, in response to your queries.
The Australian Government has commenced planning for the redeployment of
personnel and the redeployment and reconstitution or disposal of materiel,
equipment and infrastructure from Afghanistan. This planning will take
into consideration the need for ongoing support to the current operations
as well as any Australian Government contribution to Afghanistan post
2014.
To assist with the redeployment of ADF troops and equipment and the
disposal of ADF infrastructure, an ADF Transition Redeployment Planning
Team has deployed to the Middle East.
The Transition Redeployment Planning Team comprises personnel with
expertise in the areas of logistics, engineering, communications
technicians and business management.
The planning team also has specialists in movements, environmental
management, contracting and property management.
A comprehensive analysis of ADF equipment and infrastructure in
Afghanistan has been conducted.
The value of the ADF inventory currently deployed in the MEAO is $1.9B,
ranging from major items of military equipment, such as ships and
aircraft, to basic stores.
A variety of options for the redeployment or disposal of materiel is being
investigated, including return to Australia, gifting or sale (to the
Afghan Government, other coalition partners or commercial operators) or
destruction.
There is no intent to gift ADF weapons, ammunition or body armour to the
Afghan National Security Forces.
These items will be returned to Australia or comprehensively destroyed in
Afghanistan.
Equipment will be returned to Australia generally by air from Afghanistan
to the UAE and then by sea from Jebel Ali. Some containers will be sent
over the road through Pakistan and then by sea from Karachi.
Each option has varying costs and complexities.
The ADF will establish contracts with appropriate contractor/s to shift
equipment through Pakistan. However, until the full extent of
redeployment planning is complete, details of what, how and when equipment
is to be returned to Australia cannot be provided.
I trust this information is of assistance. I would also suggest that you
may like to undertake a search of the AusTender website, as contracts over
$80 000 must be published on the site. I would also draw your attention
to the recent Estimates hearings during which this issue was discussed.
The transcripts of the hearings will be available online at aph.gov.au As
agreed this matter will now be closed.
Kind regards
Theresa Stinson
Assistant Director - Media Case Management
Freedom of Information
Building F065
Gallipoli Barracks
ENOGGERA QLD 4051
Ph: (07) 3332 6359
Alternative email: [1][email address]
Website:[2]http://www.defence.gov.au/foi/index.htm
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