Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I respect Senator Fawcett's involvement and engagement during the time in which he served the nation and also his service on the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Joint Committee. I know with what great sincerity he means that question. He would know that we have had bipartisan support for Ukraine since Russia's illegal and immoral invasion. He would know that in opposition the Labor Party supported the then government's position on Ukraine and that in government we have continued to provide support to Ukraine, including the training of personnel. I think I've said in this chamber that possibly one of the most moving visits I have made has been to the location in the United Kingdom where Ukrainian troops are being trained by Australians and by British and other defence forces. You meet people who were postal workers and farmers and clerks, who are prepared to die for their country. So we share his concern about this.

I'm advised in relation to the Taipans that the Taipan has been managed as a project of concern by the Department of Defence since 2011. The senator would know of the tragic crash which saw the loss of Australian lives in July and the fact that the government announced in September 2023 that the MRH-90 would not return to flying operations. I'm advised that Defence received a request from the ambassador of Ukraine and that, by this date, the helicopters had already been subject to extensive disassembly. This decision has been communicated to the ambassador. (Time expired)