Australian support for Ukraine

REPORT - September 2024

List of recommendations

Recommendation 1

2.44The committee recommends that the Australian Government should:

develop and commit to a consistent objective and mission statement in our support for Ukraine across all departments, ensure all government agencies are working to those same objectives, and ensure that all of Australia’s assistance, support and diplomacy is designed to achieve these objectives;

commit to a comprehensive package which reflects Australia’s ongoing commitment to Ukraine’s defence, humanitarian needs and support, including multi-year sustainable Australian support;

develop an integrated National Security Strategy spanning foreign affairs, defence, and national resilience, noting that the Russian invasion of Ukraine is one of a number of threats to global security and stability, and the stability of the Indo-Pacific region; and

take steps to increase public awareness of the threat to Australia by the increasingly coordinated, aggressive actions of totalitarian regimes, and the need for collective defence cooperation by democratic nations.

Recommendation 2

2.45The committee recommends the Australian Government appoint a Coordinator-General to lead coordination of Australia’s assistance and support to Ukraine across all agencies. The person tasked with this lead coordination role should report directly to the National Security Committee of Cabinet, and should be provided with adequate resources and staff to ensure they can act as the central coordination point for government and other stakeholders in relation to Australia’s support for Ukraine.

Recommendation 3

3.90The committee recommends the Australian Government re-open the Australian Embassy in Ukraine, and ensure Australia is represented at the highest levels at future global meetings that discuss Ukraine’s defence, peace, and reconstruction.

Recommendation 4

3.91The committee recommends that the Australian Government support the lifting of restrictions on the ability of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to strike military targets in Russia as part of the defence of Ukraine from the Russian invasion.

Recommendation 5

3.92The committee recommends that any future requests from the Ukrainian Government for Australian coal shipments be responded to with high priority, acknowledging the serious threat to the Ukrainian population of energy shortages and Australia’s ability to assist with this challenge.

Recommendation 6

3.93The committee recommends that the Australian Government become a Participant or Associate Member of the Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation Against Ukraine (Register of Damage for Ukraine) as a matter of priority.

Recommendation 7

3.94The committee recommends that the Australian Government identify as a matter of priority all Russian assets in Australia that are subject to sanctions, and assess what legislative changes are required to enable the transfer of these assets or associated income to Ukraine.

Recommendation 8

3.95The committee recommends that the Australian Government improve tracking of petroleum-based products made with refined Russian oil, and apply autonomous sanctions as required in order to prevent the sale of Russian oil and petroleum products in Australia.

Recommendation 9

3.96The committee recommends that the Australian Government ensure relevant agencies are appropriately resourced to identify and address foreign interference and disinformation activities in Australia, including from Russian actors, and to respond to community and diaspora concerns regarding these activities.

Recommendation 10

3.97The committee recommends the Australian Government publicly attribute the role that the People’s Republic of China, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) are playing in supporting Russia in its invasion of Ukraine, and ensure Australia’s foreign policy settings reflect the reality of the cooperation of these four authoritarian states in sustaining the war and risking further conflicts in other parts of the world.

Recommendation 11

3.98The committee recommends that the Australian Government ensure that Australia keeps pace with international partners in sanctioning entities and individuals providing support to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, including provision of weapons and componentry used to manufacture weapons.

Recommendation 12

4.65The committee recommends that the Australian Government expediently responds to requests from the Ukrainian Government for specific military and defence equipment and materiel, acknowledging that the Ukrainian authorities with direct knowledge of the battlefield situation are best placed to decide whether the equipment sought from Australia can be used effectively in the defence of Ukraine.

Recommendation 13

4.66The committee recommends that the Australia Government adopts a default position that Defence materiel being retired or otherwise disposed of will be gifted to Ukraine unless there is a compelling case against this for an individual asset.

Recommendation 14

4.67The committee recommends that the Australian Government urgently directs the Department of Defence to develop plans to provide Ukraine with:

additional Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles;

Hawkei reconnaissance vehicles;

the retiring M1A1 Abrams tanks;

the retiring Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters;

other retired or unused military equipment; and

innovative defence capabilities, some of which have been provided previously, including drone, counter-drone, x-ray, de-mining, 3-D printing, communications, and other equipment.

Recommendation 15

4.68The committee recommends the Australian Government commits to replenish, via new orders from manufacturers or through enhanced acquisition plans, all new Australian Defence Force commitments to Ukraine with the exception of assets being retired where replacement capabilities are already acquired.

Recommendation 16

4.69The committee recommends that the Australian Government urgently join Australia to the Demining Coalition for Ukraine.

Recommendation 17

4.70The committee recommends Australia deepen cooperation and liaison between Australia and NATO partners, as well as the Australian Defence Force and the Armed Forces of Ukraine to ensure Australia learn from Ukraine’s defence and response to Russia’s invasion.

Recommendation 18

4.71The committee recommends the Australian Government strengthens support for Australia’s defence industry to provide equipment to Ukraine, and to develop innovative technologies relevant to modern warfare as highlighted by Ukraine’s defence against the Russian invasion.

Recommendation 19

5.44The committee recommends that the Australian Government, in line with recommendation 1, urgently develop a central point of contact for Australian aid and medical organisations seeking to provide assistance and aid to Ukraine.

Recommendation 20

5.45The committee recommends that the Australian Government urgently make new commitments for humanitarian assistance for Ukraine as part of a comprehensive, multi-year strategy.

Recommendation 21

5.46The committee recommends that the Australian Government prioritise using Australian non-government organisations and businesses to deliver Australian Government-funded aid, medical aid and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine wherever possible.

Recommendation 22

5.47The committee recommends that the Australian Government provide long-term certainty to Ukrainians already in Australia on temporary visas who wish to stay in Australia or are unable to safely return to Ukraine due to the ongoing war.

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