Corinne Mulholland (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The Red Cross is the world's largest humanitarian network. It boasts an incredible 16 million volunteer members worldwide. For more than 160 years the Red Cross has stood firm in the face of war, famine and disaster to provide emergency care and compassion during crisis. Importantly, it is often the Red Cross that remains on the ground when the gunfire stops or floodwaters subside to help communities heal from wounds that medicine cannot heal, like the life-long grief, fear and pain associated with living through a traumatic event. In hospitals, refugee camps and shelters around the world, Red Cross teams walk alongside victims through their pain, creating a legacy that spans borders, languages and cultures.

So it was with a sense of profound privilege earlier today that I co-convened the first meeting of the Parliamentary Friends of Australian Red Cross group of this 48th Parliament of Australia. This was a non-partisan event, with members of the opposition and crossbench represented. It was a great opportunity to meet with members of the Red Cross and understand their incredibly important work providing emergency support, critical blood donations and humanitarian aid programs to people impacted by crisis, disaster and conflict.

Since its conception in 1863, the Red Cross has been a beacon of hope in both wartime and peacetime. The Australian Red Cross branch formed in 1914 on the outbreak of the First World War. Today, in 2025, the importance of the Red Cross and their extraordinary commitment to humanity has never been more important. Especially since the unprovoked attack by Russia on Ukraine in February 2022, the efforts of the Red Cross have taken on unparalleled significance. Every day, the Ukrainian Red Cross delivers food, hygiene products, medicines, water, bed linen, diapers, pet food and other essentials. More than 13 million people have receive aid assistance from the Ukrainian Red Cross since the war started and more than 300,000 people have been trained in first aid to help this effort.

This incredible work in some of the harshest and most dangerous places in the world right now has not come without a toll on the Red Cross itself. Twenty-three of Ukraine's local Red Cross offices have been destroyed during the conflict. Despite this, the Ukrainian Red Cross has expanded its scope during the conflict and is now playing an integral part in infrastructure restoration, where possible, and psychological rehabilitation.

The horrific destruction Russia is unleashing in Ukraine might be 13,000 kilometres away from our shores, but I'm proud to say that Australians are standing by our ally. Through the Ukraine Crisis Appeal, Australians have helped provide relief, shelter, clean water, health care and cash assistance. In fact, more than $20 million in public and private donations has been provided by Australians to support the Ukraine Red Cross efforts, and Australia has deployed expert delegates with expertise in health care, logistics and other wartime efforts to help on the ground in Ukraine.

The Australian government has stood steadfast with Ukraine since 2022. The Albanese government has committed more than $1.5 billion in military support. That includes over $85 million in humanitarian assistance, $63 million to enhance Ukraine's energy security and $66 million for reconstruction and recovery. That's because to support Ukraine is to uphold international law. The Red Cross is helping uphold morale on the ground in Ukraine, offering a sense of hope to Ukrainians in places where hope has been shattered. So I want to thank the Red Cross for their incredible work and every Australians who has donated to support the efforts of the Red Cross volunteers in Ukraine and around the world.