Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. It comes from revelations that, despite sanctions that the government established in 2022 to stop the import of a range of Russian goods, Australia is importing products refined from Russian crude oil—or Russian blood oil, as it's being called. Over 10 years ago Australia was calling for blood diamonds to be included in the international definition 'conflict diamonds', and now we're accepting Russian blood oil. The centre for research on energy says that in dollar terms Australia has provided twice the support to Russia, by purchasing blood oil products, that we have to Ukraine in equipment and training to help them win the war. What has your government done to quantify the volume of Russian blood oil that's being imported into Australia and the associated financial assistance to Russia's war efforts?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Lambie. You're right that it's very important for us to do everything we can, with others in the international community, to impose a cost on Russia for its illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine. Since we have been in government we have increased the number of sanctions. We've imposed strict sanctions and trade measures to restrict the import, purchase and transport of oil coming from or originating in Russia. I also announced in June our first sanctions against what is known as the Russian shadow fleet, which they established to try to avoid sanctions and other compliance measures to, again, help starve Russia's war machine of oil revenue. As a result of measures we've taken, direct imports of these products have fallen from $80 million, before Russia's invasion, to zero.

But the senator raises a very important point, which I have made public comment about, which is how to deal with energy products that come in via third countries, that are dealt with in other countries and then imported as refined petroleum and other products from third countries. Regrettably—and I have pursued this—we don't have in place the mechanisms, nor does the international community, to track and monitor all of the products into third countries, because they're not in place. We are currently looking at what other options we could utilise to put further pressure on Russia's oil revenue. There isn't, at this stage, a global tracing system nor any regulation or oversight in the third countries that we're describing. So it's a real-world problem—a real economic problem—but we do share the same objective you do, Senator, which is to try and starve Mr Putin of oil revenue. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Lambie, first supplementary?

Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To stand with Ukraine, oppose the invasion, impose sanctions and allow the import of Russian blood oil—enemy oil—provided another country processes it or DFAT issues a sanctions permit, is beyond belief. By the letter of the law, it's legally okay, but, ethically and morally, it certainly is not. This isn't right and it's a low blow to Ukraine. Assuming you get regular reports, how many sanction permits have the department issued for Russian blood oil since 2022?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, Senator Lambie, I would say to you that, if we had the systems to try and identify it in third countries effectively, then of course we would want to try and utilise those systems. Those systems aren't in place, and this is a problem that all of our like-mindeds also face, including the European Union, which has announced an intention to do just this.

In relation to sanctions, I will need to take that on notice to determine what permits have been issued. You will recall that we have very broad economic sanctions on Russia, so permits, where required, would be across a number of areas, not just in relation to oil. But they are very restricted and they are only issued in accordance with the legislation and ministerial discretion, so I will— (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Lambie, second supplementary?

Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We've got laws that require companies to understand and take responsibility for their supply chains, prohibit slave labour and human exploitation and protect human rights. And, while we provide arms support to Ukraine with one hand, we also send money to their aggressor to destroy their country and kill their people. The hypocrisy of the situation is mind blowing. What options have the Albanese government been looking at to address the situation when it comes to blood oil?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Lambie, you raised the responsibility of Australian firms to assure their supply chains, and I agree with you. In fact, one of the ways in which we can try and get around the fact that governments don't have access to a third-country-tracking system for oil is to actually say to companies, 'You need to do more to assure your supply chain,' just as we say, in relation to modern slavery, 'We want to make sure that modern slavery doesn't infect your supply chain.' So I certainly agree with you. I've made the statement publicly that companies should take responsibility for making sure that they don't in actuality get around international sanctions against Russia.