Linda White (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The government supports this urgency motion. This is based on our record of support for Ukraine and the concern we have about the motivations of the coalition, who are seeking to politicise foreign policy for cheap political gain. Firstly, I want to put on record in this place my support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian oppression. For nearly 16 months, the Ukrainian people have been locked in a gruelling war they did not start and which has taken so much from them. I'm proud to stand with Ukraine as it defends its people, its territory and its sovereignty.

After the bleak consequences of both the Second World War and the Cold War in the 20th century, we're now seeing the reality of another full-scale invasion in Europe. This is a reality I find disheartening and shocking. I don't really like talking about war in this place. I do not wish to condone it or to pretend that I agree it is ever permissible; however, I acknowledge that sometimes in life we must pick sides. The people of Ukraine have no choice but to defend themselves against unprovoked aggression from the Russian state, and, on that basis, we in this place must support the efforts of Ukraine to protect themselves.

In that vein, I also want to make mention of the efforts in advocating for Ukraine of my colleague and friend Senator Bilyk. Senator Bilyk has a personal connection to Ukraine, as she has spoken of today, and, since the beginning of the war, she has worked to publicise the efforts of the Ukrainian people in defending their lands. I thank her for her leadership in this place on Ukraine.

I want to step out the support that the Australian government, particularly the Labor government, has provided to the people and government of Ukraine since the invasion began. In my view, that support has been significant. In military terms, Australia has remained one of the largest contributors both within our region and as a non-NATO-member country. In fact, our government has nearly doubled the dollar amount spent on military support for Ukraine. We have spent over $680 million since we took office in May last year. We have provided 90 Bushmasters, a number of armoured vehicles, explosives removal equipment and ADF personnel to help train Ukrainian troops in the United Kingdom, to name some of the initiatives. Ukraine cannot win the war against Russia without military equipment, and the government acknowledges that difficult fact.

The humanitarian response of the Australian government is also an important aspect of our support of Ukraine. We are extending immigration support and access to social safety nets for Ukrainian nationals in Australia and Ukrainians seeking to come here, fleeing war zones and violence. This sort of humanitarian and practical administrative help for those fleeing the terror of war is really important because it contributes to the safety of Ukrainian citizens and maintains important links between Australia's Ukrainian community and their family and friends back home.

Lastly, the government has taken serious action to make sure that the Russian state and Russian economy do not profit from the war in Ukraine, and to press those financing the illegal invasion to stop pouring money into it. Senator Bilyk detailed these measures in great detail, but I remind you that there are more than 1,100 targeted financial sanctions and trade sanctions on key Russian individuals and industries that look to prevent the importation of Russian oil, coal, gas and gold.

All of this military, humanitarian, diplomatic and economic support provided to Ukraine shows that the Australian government is committed to maintaining and reinforcing the international rules-based order, a system which represents the best shot we have at avoiding war and preserving peace. Russia needs to be held to account. The illegal invasion of another country, undertaken in the way Russia invaded Ukraine, is not acceptable. This should always be the case.

It's also worth pointing out that until recently the question of government support for Ukraine was a bipartisan and non-politicised question. However, I must acknowledge that even me standing here to debate an urgency motion raised by Senator Chandler represents the latest desperate attempt by the coalition to politicise important matters of foreign policy.

Finally, I say: I'm proud of the government's record of support for Ukraine and I stand with Ukraine.