Independent Senator Rex Patrick today called on Foreign Minister Senator Penny Wong to act without further delay to reopen Australia’s Embassy to Ukraine.
The reopening of Australia’s Embassy in Kyiv would be an important demonstration of solidarity with Ukraine and allow the provision of more effective consular services to Australian citizens in that embattled country”, Senator Patrick said.
“More than two months have passed since Russian forces withdrew from near Kyiv. Almost all Western Embassies in Kyiv have now reopened. The United States reopened their Embassy a month ago. The Canadian Embassy which shares a building with the Australian Embassy has also been open for more than a month.”
“Despite this Australia’s Embassy remains “temporarily closed” and Australia’s diplomats remain located in Poland, hundreds of kilometres from the Ukrainian capital.”
“While Foreign Minister Wong has been busy in the Pacific and Asia, she can walk and chew gum at the same time. If Canada can reopen their Embassy in the same building as Australia’s shuttered office, why can’t we get our diplomatic presence up and running in Kyiv? Senator Wong has now been in office for nearly a month. The fact that Australia’s Embassy has not reopened in Kyiv requires explanation from her and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.”
“Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on Prime Minister Antony Albanese to visit Kyiv. Mr Albanese should do so as soon as he can, but meanwhile reopening our Embassy should not be further delayed. As it stands Australia may be the last Western Embassy in Kyiv to reopen for business, a state of affairs that falls well short of the diplomatic support we should be extending to Ukraine.”
“Reopening the Australian Embassy with the addition of a defence attaché and supporting staff would facilitate the provision of further arms and equipment shipments to the Ukrainian Army as they defend their homeland from Russian aggression. Australia should provide further military assistance to help the Ukrainian armed forces thwart Russian attacks and push the invaders out of Ukraine.”
“The reopened Australian Embassy in Kyiv would also be able to provide much more effective consular services to Australian citizens in Ukraine.”
“While there must be a thorough security assessment by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, it is clear that safety issues have not prevented numerous other countries from reopening their diplomatic premises in Kyiv. DFAT would certainly be able to find highly professional staff ready and eager to volunteer to restore full diplomatic and consular operations in Kyiv.”
“Australia should not be dragging our feet and Foreign Minister Wong should act without further delay.”
