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April 2024

Richard Marles announces Australia is sending another $100 MILLION to fight Russia.

Screenshot 2024-04-28 at 10.28.32

27 APRIL 2024

The Albanese Government is continuing its unwavering support for Ukraine, with the announcement of a new $100 million assistance package. 

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, announced the package during a visit to Ukraine today where he met Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, and saw first-hand the tragic costs of Russia’s unrelenting attacks.

Today’s announcement by the Albanese Government includes:

  • A $50 million package of military assistance with the support of Australian defence industry

o   This includes $30 million towards uncrewed aerial systems, and $15 million towards other high priority equipment, such as combat helmets, rigid hull inflatable boats, boots, fire masks and generators.

  • $50 million for short range air defence systems.
  • The delivery of air-to-ground precision munitions.

This takes Australia’s military assistance to $880 million since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and brings Australia’s overall support for Ukraine to over $1 billion.

During his visit, the Deputy Prime Minister met with Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal and Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Ivan Havryliuk. 

He visited Armed Forces of Ukraine conducting training, and had the opportunity to tour local defence industry which has been integral in Ukraine’s defence against Russia.

The Deputy Prime Minister reiterated Australia’s commitment to the multinational program to train Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel in the United Kingdom, through Operation Kudu. 

The Deputy Prime Minister has also visited Poland and met his counterpart, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, WĹ‚adysĹ‚aw Kosiniak-Kamysz. 

They discussed the conflict in Ukraine, and its global implications including Russia’s flagrant breach of the UN Charter. 

Deputy Prime Minister Marles thanked the Polish Government for its support of the recent six-month deployment of Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail, which helped protect a vital gateway of international humanitarian and military assistance to Ukraine. 

Quotes attributable to Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Richard Marles MP:

“Australia remains committed to supporting Ukraine to resolve the conflict on its terms.

“I am pleased to announce an additional $100 million of military assistance, including world leading drone technology, with the support of local Australian defence industry. 

“Australia is also providing critical air-to-ground precision munitions and short range air defence systems.

“Ukraine and its people have endured more than two years of Russia’s full-scale invasion but their spirit remains strong. This was reaffirmed during my meeting with Prime Minister Shmyhal.

“Australia is proud to be working with our partners, including Poland, to support Ukraine’s self-defence.”

MEDIA NOTE:

Media can access imagery here.  


$160M for a glorified Excel spreadsheet.

UPDATE

Screenshot 2024-04-28 at 14.16.47

Why does everything Labor governments do cost orders of magnitude more than private enterprise?

This announcement boils down to a system that connects all the state and territory firearm registration systems.

$160M for that?

Someone is doing very, very nicely out of this government.

Screenshot 2024-04-28 at 08.12.39

Funding the National Firearms Register

The Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP
Media Release

The Australian Government will deliver a historic funding commitment to implement the National Firearms Register, a signature community and police safety initiative.

In next month’s Budget, the Australian Government will invest $161.3 million over 4 years to establish the Register, and to support extensive reform of Commonwealth, state and territory firearms management systems.

National Cabinet’s landmark agreement in December 2023 to implement a National Firearms Register is the most significant improvement in Australia's firearms management systems in almost 30 years and will keep our community and police safer.

The tragic events at Wieambilla in December 2022 were a catalyst for progressing this outstanding reform from the 1996 Port Arthur massacre response.

The National Firearms Register will allow law enforcement to assess firearms risks by:

  • Providing frontline police officers with near real-time information on firearms, parts, and owners and
  • Linking firearms information with other relevant police and government information, including information from the National Criminal Intelligence System.

Once established, police will know where firearms are, who owns them, and what other risks to the community and police may exist.

The development of the Register is being informed by community and stakeholder consultation. The initiative is led by the Attorney-General’s Department and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, working alongside state and territory governments.

The Australian Government is committed to protecting the Australian community and ensuring Australia’s firearms laws remain amongst the most effective in the world.

If you know or suspect that someone has an illegal firearm, you can anonymously share that information with Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at crimestoppers.com.au.