The 1993 Perth tank rampage refers to an event in the early hours of 27 April 1993, when 27-year-old Gary Alan Hayes stole an armoured personnel carrier (APC) – referred to in the media as a "tank" – from Irwin Barracks and drove it through the Perth CBD, ramming police targets and government buildings.

[4] Hayes had a history of mental health issues, and previous encounters with the police over criminal behaviour, including charges of breaking and entering a delicatessen in 1987, stealing $78,000 worth of counter-terrorist[dubious – discuss] equipment from the Special Air Service Regiment barracks in November 1992, and illegal possession of a firearm in April 1993.

In 1987 he was forcibly admitted to the maximum-security wing of Graylands Hospital due to paranoid delusions, and treated for schizophrenia.

He then caused damage to the CIB building before circling Parliament House, where police negotiators failed in efforts to get him to surrender.

When queried as to the ease with which the vehicle had been stolen, Brigadier Terry Nolan stated that "If you'd have asked me this yesterday I would have said it's not easy to do it, but the evidence of this morning would indicate that it's perhaps easier than I would have thought.