Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

Australian embassy officials formally represented Australia—a very different approach than the approach of the former government. I do note that, yesterday, I had the honour to meet here Yulia Navalnaya here in Parliament House, and I know that she met people from both sides of the House. We discussed her advocacy for democracy, freedom and human rights in Russia and our absolute unequivocal opposition to Vladimir Putin and his outrageous authoritarian regime. Tonight, I will join another meeting of the coalition of the willing, convened by President Macron. During the election campaign, this became a source of difference between the two political parties. We on this side have always been unequivocal about standing with the people of Ukraine, and I am pleased that the coalition appear—to the credit of the new leadership—to be backing the participation in the coalition of the willing this time.

We stand, in this country, for democracy. In this country, we stand for human rights and liberty. We continue to do so in all of its forms. We continue to call out. Yesterday, we introduced new sanctions against Russia, as well as the position that we've had over a period of time with North Korea. I haven't and never will meet Vladimir Putin. I haven't and never will meet the leader of North Korea as well, and we will give every support to people fighting for democracy, right around the world. That's my government's approach.

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