Gavin Pearce (Braddon, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Health, Aged Care and Indigenous Health Services) Share this | Hansard source

Saturday marked the second anniversary of Russia's immoral and illegal invasion of Ukraine. As a nation, we stand shoulder to shoulder with all Ukrainians. We share their grief. We honour their bravery. We recognise the strength of the people who for more than 730 days, against all odds, have courageously defended their sovereignty, their freedom and their home. We grieve for the lives lost and the casualties from Russia's abhorrent actions. Brutality has resulted in more than 10,000 civilian deaths and more than 27,000 civilian injuries.

Now is not the time for our resolve to waver or diminish in any form. Now is the time for Australia to remain steadfast and to reconfirm its commitment to fight for the rule of law and national sovereignty that every Australian depends on. These are global principles that Ukrainians are fighting for on behalf of every single Australian in their own country—principles that underpin peace and prosperity in our region and right across the world. But it is beholden on the government of the day, the Albanese government, to act. Within two months of Russia's invasion, the former coalition government delivered a comprehensive $285 million package of support to Ukraine. This included military and humanitarian assistance, visas for Ukrainians seeking shelter in Australia, and 79,000 tonnes of thermal coal. We also applied more than 800 sanctions to Russian individuals and entities and their supporters. The Liberal and National parties continue to offer our bipartisan support to the government, but the Albanese government have been left wanting in their support for Ukraine and for global peace.

A prime example of this is the government's failure to support the Ukraine in the form of a donation, which was requested by Ukraine, of Australian out-of-service MRH-90 Taipan helicopters. A formal request to acquire the Taipan helicopter platform was made by the Ukrainian government in December last year. This Albanese government refused this request on the basis that it is not feasible to return the MRH-90 Taipan to flying condition. This government preferred, and is to proceed with, the option of disassembling, decommissioning and burying the said helicopter platform. This is despite the value of each platform on the second-hand international market reportedly being around $20 million.

The decision just doesn't pass the pub test. How can disassembling and burying a Taipan helicopter be a better option than giving Ukraine a much-needed aviation capability? The cost of decommissioning the rotary-wing platform and removing rare earth and dangerous materials before burial will cost millions of dollars. Ukraine's request made it clear that they would work with NATO allies, including Germany and France, in order to operate these aircraft platforms in casualty-evacuation roles, which have been proven since the Vietnam War to be a key factor in saving casualties and lives in war. It is the height of arrogance for this government to say that we don't think that Ukraine and NATO partners are up to handling these helicopters. I call on the government to reverse this decision, to pause the dismantling of the MRH-90 fleet and to genuinely consult on this with the Ukrainian administration.

Labor's 2023-24 budget delivered no new funding commitments to support Ukraine's defence or humanitarian needs. There are no plans to reopen Australia's embassy in Kyiv, despite more than 60 other nations doing so, including allies from the UK, US, Canada, the EU and Germany. The Ukrainian government has repeatedly called for increased Australian military support, and this Albanese government has not stepped up. It has damaged Australia's international reputation as a trusted defence partner and ally.

The coalition reaffirms its unwavering commitment to Ukraine. We stand up today and say that. These are Ukraine's darkest days, and I call on this government to deliver what is needed—a comprehensive strategy to support the military, humanitarian and energy supply needs of one of the bravest countries in the world.

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