Senate debates

Tuesday, 27 March 2018

Questions without Notice

Russia

2:01 pm

Photo of Mathias CormannMathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Farrell for expressing the opposition's support for the government's actions. Today Australia is taking action, together with our allies and partners, in response to the recent nerve agent attack in Salisbury in the United Kingdom. Two Russian diplomats identified as undeclared intelligence officers will be expelled by the Australian government for actions inconsistent with their status, pursuant to the Vienna convention. The two officials will be directed to depart Australia within seven days.

Australia shares the UK assessment that the Russian Federation was responsible for the attack in Salisbury. There is no plausible alternative explanation for the attack, and Russia's failure to credibly respond to the legitimate UK demand for an explanation further underscores Russian culpability. The European Council has also agreed that there is no plausible alternative explanation, that the Russian Federation was responsible. We strongly support the United Kingdom, our close friend and ally, in taking this action. Our decision reflects the shocking nature of the attack, the first offensive use of chemical weapons in Europe since World War II, involving a highly lethal substance in a populated area, endangering countless other members of the community. It takes into account advice from the UK government that the substance used on 4 March was a military-grade nerve agent of a type developed by Russia. This attack cannot be tolerated by any sovereign nation. To do nothing would only encourage further efforts to undermine the international rules based order. We strongly support the call on Russia to disclose the full extent of its chemical weapons program, in accordance with international law. Australia remains committed to acting with its allies and partners to deter Russia's actions where they are a threat to international security.

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