Jordon Steele-John (WA, Australian Greens) | Link to this | Hansard source

Over the last four weeks we have seen a full-scale humanitarian disaster unfold across Ukraine at the hands of a Russian oligarch and the military he controls. We here in Australia have seen devastatingly and in real time the effects of war, relayed to us via the news and social media. Never before have the results of those who push for war been so accessible so quickly to those across the world. We are already seeing the generational scars that only wars can cause: the thousands who have died, the tens of thousands wounded, the millions who have been forced to flee their country, and entire cities facing destruction at the hands of weapons of war put there by oligarchs who know they will never have to face the realities of what they cause.

At home in Perth I have seen people come together and rally behind the Ukrainian community. A few weeks ago I attended a vigil alongside supporters and those with family members living in Ukraine. I was struck by the number of people, especially young people, who came out to show their solidarity. Our solidarity must go beyond just saying it—just saying the words. We in Australia must put into action serious steps designed to bring peaceful resolution to the conflict that has already inflicted so much damage upon communities, whose lives have been torn apart by the whims of a few Russian oligarchs and the militarism and colonialism they pursue. Let me say it again very clearly: Ukraine is suffering at the hands of militarism and colonialism pursued by a tiny minority of those in Russia who've amassed incredible power.

We must put this solidarity into action by working together, as part of the international community, to call for an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of all Russian troops and for an end to the violence and risk to life. We need the immediate provision of humanitarian aid and support that includes food, evacuation support and other necessities for ensuring the survival of transient communities. States, particularly states in Europe, must without delay commit to an urgent transition away from the use of Russian oil and gas. Let's place this in context: Russia has earned $119 billion in revenue in 2021 alone from the sale of oil and gas. This is a petrostate, and oil and gas is funding Putin's war machine.

We also need to move immediately and globally for a program of debt forgiveness for Ukraine. Ukraine holds more than US$129 billion in debt, and cancelling this debt, particularly that which is owed to the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission, will significantly aid in the country's future recovery. Increasing our humanitarian intake via a special intake of 20,000 people would enable those who are fleeing the conflict to have a place to call home in Australia, as would the immediate offering of permanent visas for Ukrainian nationals or those on temporary protection visas.

We must do all of this as well as continue to pursue targeted sanctions on powerful Russian individuals who are supporting the invasion of Ukraine. This must be done with peace as the goal. As a global community we have the opportunity to turn away from the steps that will only work to prolong the conflict and suffering and learn from history the steps that must be taken to aid the Ukrainian people in recovering from this terrible invasion, not simply to line the pockets of weapons manufacturers and global energy companies.