The launch of the Australia-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group (AUPFG) in the same week as both Houses of Parliament passed motions condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine, has shown the strength and depth of Australia’s support for Ukraine.
The launch on Tuesday 7 March 2023 was opened by Senator Penny Wong, Foreign Affairs Minister, and attended by Government MPs, consular officials, defence companies, members and supporters of the Australian Ukrainian community, and Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisation (AFUO) Board and team members.
It followed a day of meetings between AFUO Board members, Ministers, Shadow Opposition Ministers and Senators, and the raising of a motion in the Senate by Senator Wong in support of Ukraine. This had followed the raising of the same motion in the House of Representatives on Monday 6 March 2023.
Although the AUPFG has existed since 2017, it must be formed for each Parliament. The current AUPFG of the 47th Parliament is chaired by Labor Senator Catryna Bilyk, with Liberal Senator David Van serving as Deputy Chair. Comprising 57 MPs, the group is the largest friendship group in the Australian Parliament, with broad cross-party support.
“The AUPFG provides an avenue for the Australian Ukrainian community to deepen its engagement with Government and Members of Parliament on matters related to humanitarian and military support for Ukraine, trade and investment opportunities, and assistance for displaced Ukrainians in Australia,” said Chestyna Kmetj, AFUO AUPFG Liaison.
“One of the first things we’ll be doing is hosting Ukrainian MPs from the Ukrainian-Australian Parliamentary Friendship Group next week in Canberra and Melbourne,” she added.
Stefan Romaniw OAM, AFUO Co-Chair said today “It was good to meet and talk with AUPFG members and the Government about how we move forward with helping Ukraine. We also deeply appreciate the bipartisan motions to mark one year since Russia’s full-scale invasion.”
Senator Wong said when moving the motion in the Senate “It is with sorrow and resolve that I move this motion marking one year since Russia’s illegal and immoral full-scale invasion of Ukraine…However, we are not commemorating a year of war, we are celebrating a year of resistance, courage, resolve and solidarity. A year of Australia and its partners doing what we can to support Ukraine.”
Labor’s Senator Bilyk, Liberal Senators Birmingham and Van, Greens Senator Jordan Steele-John and the Nationals’ Bridget Mackenzie also spoke in favour of the motion. Senator Van emphasised the need for Australia and its international partners to continue to provide military aid to Ukraine, whilst Senator Steele-John urged Australia to begin debt relief for Ukraine to assist with rebuilding the country’s cities and infrastructure.
