I move—That this House:
(1) notes:
(a) that February 2024 marks two years since Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine;
(b) the Ukrainian people continue to show strength, determination and courage in defending their land and resisting Russia’s unlawful invasion;
(c) the decision in September 2023 of the Government to retire the MRH-90 Taipan helicopters following the loss of four lives during a training accident; and
(d) the request of the Ukrainian Government in late 2023 for Australia to donate the MRH-90 Taipan helicopters to assist in its ongoing war efforts to defend their homeland.
(2) expresses concern regarding the:
(a) decision of the Government to bring forward its program of dismantling of the MRH-90 Taipan helicopters;
(b) Government’s weak and too-little, too-late response to requests for assistance from the government of Ukraine; and
(c) failure of the Government to maintain the former Government’s record of delivering a comprehensive package of support that established Australia as the largest non-NATO contributor to Ukraine; and
(3) calls on the Government to demonstrate Australia’s continued support for Ukraine by urgently:
(a) seeking advice from defence industry and NATO partners as to what support may be available to facilitate the refurbishment and operation of MRH-90 Taipan helicopters by Ukraine and reconsider the response to the government of Ukraine;
(b) responding affirmatively to the Ukrainian request for thermal power to assist in power generation;
(c) re-establishing Australia’s embassy in Kyiv; and
(d) delivering a comprehensive strategy of support covering military, humanitarian and energy supplies.
