BILL SHORTEN: If Ukraine fails, other democracies are weakened and other dictators are emboldened

In February 2022, the world watched in disbelief as Russia invaded Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin, of course, didn’t call it an illegal invasion, he tried “fake news” by calling it a “special military operation”.

In fact, it is more of an act of unprovoked war, it is the worst land war seen in Europe since 1945.

Fighting and air strikes have inflicted more than 30,000 civilian deaths, 3.7 million people are internally displaced, and 6.5 million have fled Ukraine, while 14.6 million people need humanitarian assistance.

But the Ukrainian people remain steadfast in the face of Russian aggression and Australia remains committed to empowering Ukraine to end this war on its own terms.

The latest show of support by Australia is the Albanese Government’s announcement that it will gift 49 M1A1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine.

These tanks have been an important asset for the Australian Army. They have served us well.

But as announced by the Australian Army in January 2022, the M1A1 Abrams will be replaced by the M1A2 fleet.

A small number of M1A1 Abrams tanks will remain with the Australian Army until it makes the transition to the M1A2 fleet.

The M1 Abrams was initially designed in the US more than four decades ago — the Chrysler protype beating out the General Motors offering. Two household names that are more synonymous with the family car than the battlefield.

The M1 Abrams tanks have been in service since the 1980s and have had numerous improvements to capabilities over their service. They are considered by some global military experts as the best tanks to ever serve.

As they have done for Australia, the Abrams tanks will see both the capability and resistance of the Armed Forces of Ukraine further reinforced.

We are doing the same for Ukraine’s maritime defences. Just this month, Defence Minister, Richard Marles, announced that 14 rigid hull boats would be gifted to Ukraine.

These Australian Defence Force sea boats will help provide a fast and highly manoeuvrable maritime capability for Ukraine.

This recent announcement builds on previous contributions to Ukraine’s maritime capability, including Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boats, which the Deputy Prime Minister announced during a visit to Ukraine earlier this year.

Strengthening the country’s maritime and coastal defence is an imperative. It has been an important operational area for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, as they have withstood continued attacks by Russia’s invading forces from the Black Sea.

And we can’t forget the 90 Australian-engineered Bushmaster armoured vehicles our country sent to Ukraine and which President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised as performing masterfully in combat.

It is with great pride that Aussie ingenuity is helping protect the Ukrainian defence forces as they secure the territorial integrity of their proud independent nation.

With the value of the tank package around $245 million and the maritime support package valued at $14 million, the total value of Australia’s military assistance to Ukraine is now more than $1.3 billion, with overall support at more than $1.5 billion.

Labor and Liberal, Australia’s position since Russia’s brutal invasion began, our support for Ukraine has not wavered.

I was honoured to represent Australia at the Ukraine Peace Summit in Switzerland in June this year.

The inaugural Summit brought together more than 100 countries committed to developing a common understanding of a path towards a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, based on the inalienable right of all nations to exist peacefully.

I’m proud that Australia continues to work with international partners to support Ukraine to win this conflict on its terms.

The world has since watched in awe at the resilience and courage of the Ukrainian people as they have defended their sovereignty and territory.

We might think this is war in a far-off land that doesn’t affect us.

That is not true.

Russia and Ukraine are two major global suppliers of energy, food and fertilizer.

Russia’s continued illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine has strategic and economic implications that reverberate around the world.

Ukrainians are not just fighting for their country, they are also fighting for democracies around the world.

If Ukraine fails, other democracies are weakened and other dictators are emboldened.

If Ukraine cannot have safe borders and its territorial rights respected, then who can?

This is the struggle.

Right now, around the globe, democracy is under greater challenge than at any time since the Second World War.

We cannot ignore this illegal war just because we are the fortunate possessors of an island continent far removed from troubles elsewhere, hoping our distance makes us immune.

We have to jealously guard and nourish our democracy.

And we must support other friends, near and far, who fight to keep theirs.