Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yesterday in this place I called for the introduction of a Ukraine democracy defence lend-lease act. This would more efficiently and more cogently underpin Australia's long-term military and humanitarian support to Ukraine.

I've been working very hard to identify areas where Australia can assist Ukraine in the face of humanitarian disasters caused by Russia's illegal invasion. The first example is long-term demining and mine support action. Ukraine is now the most heavily mined country in the world, with approximately 25 per cent of its land contaminated. Fifty thousand Ukrainians have lost limbs, including many women and children. The second area is deployable telecommunications infrastructure, which has been heavily targeted by the Russian military. The result is that internet access is now only at 16 per cent, and it is significantly disrupting civilian life as well as military operations. The third is the provision of drones, which has been discussed at some length in this place and also in the media.

Australia has significant expertise in all three of these areas and in many more areas where we can assist with both military and humanitarian support to the Ukraine. By lending our expertise and experience, we can play a role in alleviating the suffering of millions of Ukrainians. But to achieve this we need a single framework with legislative underpinning. We need a far more coherent way of doing this, and I believe this should be a lend-lease act similar to that enacted by the United States last year.