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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-02-23 Daily Xml
Contents
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Motions

Ukraine Invasion

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier) (17:07): I move:

That this house—

(a) notes with great sadness that 24 February 2023 marks the first anniversary of the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine;

(b) deplores the actions of Russia invading Ukraine and calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the total withdrawal of Russian forces;

(c) notes the terrible toll caused by the war with international estimates of more than 40,000 deaths, more than 90,000 casualties and the displacement of more than 14 million people;

(d) affirms the resolutions of the 11th emergency session of the United Nations General Assembly, calling for the full protection of civilians, including humanitarian personnel, journalists and vulnerable persons;

(e) congratulates South Australians for the warmth and friendship they have shown Ukrainians, displaced by the conflict, who have settled in our great state; and

(f) resolves to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes, to ensure peace and independence is returned for the Ukrainian people—SLAVA UKRAINI!

I rise to move this motion to mark what is a grim anniversary. It is one year since Russian forces crossed the border into Ukraine, an act of unprovoked aggression which has been met with universal condemnation from the rest of the world's democracies.

Twelve months ago, in a brazen act of expansionist hubris, Vladimir Putin sent his armies into Ukrainian territory, expecting to encounter a few local skirmishes that would last weeks before an easy victory. His armies did not anticipate the resistance they would encounter, nor did they count on the bravery and resilience of the Ukrainian people.

Putin did not guess that Volodymyr Zelenskyy would prove to be such a powerful leader of his people. He did not for a moment imagine that, a year after crossing the border, his forces would be in retreat or that his economy would be starting to feel the bite of international sanctions. He did not imagine that Russia would sacrifice their lucrative oil and gas customers in Europe, or that he would face an increasing chorus of criticism even at home from an oppressed populace increasingly unhappy with their leader's failures and becoming growingly shocked by the number of their own young people being sent to their deaths for a madman's folly.

We recognise and celebrate the strength of the Ukrainian people, but this anniversary is a hard one to acknowledge and an impossible one to celebrate. It has been a year of death, of destruction, of families torn apart and futures set aflame. It is a year with 40,000 lives lost and casualties approaching 100,000.

It is a year that has seen over 14 million people—14 million people—displaced, and reconstruction and decontamination costs calculated to be close to a trillion Australian dollars. It has been a year of war with no winners—and it is not over. The people of Ukraine continue to fight their would-be invaders, whose threats grow ever more ominous. However, if there is one light that has emerged from these tragic events it is the light that the Ukrainian people have provided to the rest of the world to inspire them to fight for the cause of freedom.

I am proud that Australia stepped up to support Ukraine as part of an international effort, showing that our country has no patience for bullies. When we heard the first stories of families fleeing to Australia for safety, often mothers and children of men staying behind to fight, I made very clear that South Australia would open its doors and, more importantly, its hearts to those fleeing the conflict.

We have welcomed 400 Ukrainian people to South Australia, several of whom are here in the chamber today, and I want to say again, on behalf of the people of our state, 'You are welcome here, you are safe here, and we stand with you every step of the way.' Words are one thing, but South Australia has backed them up with action. We have heard of the horrors that Ukraine doctors and nurses have seen and the desperate need for supplies to support their vital humanitarian work. That is why South Australia has sent almost $2 million worth of medical supplies to Ukraine.

We have provided $200,000 to the Australian Refugee Association to provide trauma-informed support services. We have done little things like arranging free entry to our zoos and wildlife parks for the children who have been brought here through so much trauma at such a tender age. We have provided information and assistance in employment and skills training and waived costs for health care and school. Through the Housing Trust we have given families access to public housing and rental assistance for those entering the private market. We have arranged swimming and water safety instruction through Surf Life Saving SA—it is a bit warmer here in the summer.

We have supported the work of the Association of Ukrainians in South Australia, who have been tireless in providing support to new arrivals, through a $175,000 grant. On this point I would like to acknowledge the Association of Ukrainians in South Australia, particularly Frank Fursenko, for his extraordinary work.

Additionally, my government has supported through tens of thousands of dollars to The Advertiser Foundation's Ukraine appeal and also to the Ukraine Crisis Appeal. We acted promptly by introducing and then passing laws in our parliament to ban state government investment in all Russian assets, doing our part in the worldwide sanctions against Putin's aggression, and we continue to stand with our federal government's continued humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine. In short, we have backed our words with direct action and support for people who have come so far and experienced too much.

As proud as I am of the actions of the government, I am even prouder of the people of South Australia themselves. This war has affected everyone here. With the rising global cost of energy, due in no small part to Putin's reckless actions, South Australians have been doing it tough, but it has never stopped them being welcoming and genuine and sincere in their accommodation of Ukrainian people in our state. It speaks to South Australia's generosity and belief that we will always have a role to play in helping and supporting one another in their time of need.

It says something else: it says that we have no patience for despots. Today, on this anniversary of the Russian invasion, we reiterate in this chamber that we stand with the people of Ukraine, as we have done throughout this unnecessary and futile conflict, and we reassure all of those who are rebuilding their lives in South Australia that we share your hopes for peace. At the same time we join the global call for the immediate and full withdrawal of Russian invaders in Ukraine.

The Ukraine conflict is half a world away from us here in South Australia, but hearing the experience of those families affected, stories of courage and resilience, of sorrow and hope, we are reminded that we are all part of a great global human family. We hope that sanity will prevail and peace will return to the region for the benefit of Ukrainians and freedom-loving people around the world alike. But hoping for peace does not mean that we cower to despots: today we proudly stand with Ukraine in the hope that this conflict ends before reaching a tragic second anniversary.

History is littered with examples of the extraordinary acts that people will undertake to ensure the preservation of freedom. History is littered with examples of would-be invaders and despots and those who seek to serve their own interests at the expense of others failing. I have every confidence that ultimately good will prevail in this instance. Every freedom-loving person around our world and right here at home in our state stands with Ukraine.

For me as a descendant of a Lithuanian grandfather and a Hungarian grandmother, who themselves had to flee the perils of Russian aggression and the communist forces that sought to tear their nations apart in the late 1940s and 1950s, I know all too well of the tragic impact that Russian aggression can have on the human spirit, but I also know that where there is hope and the will to live freely, then we will prevail. Ukraine will prevail. The West will prevail.

In the meantime, we stand with every South Australian of Ukrainian descent and all of the work they are doing to support their families back home. We will never let you down, we will never stop fighting and we will always stand with Ukraine. Slava Ukraini.

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS (Black—Leader of the Opposition) (17:19): It is a great honour on behalf of the Liberal Party of South Australia, on behalf of the opposition, to wholeheartedly support the motion that has been put forward by the Premier this afternoon, to wholeheartedly support each of his sentiments towards the Ukrainian people and to support each of the initiatives that the Government of South Australia has put into place to support those Ukrainians who have found their way to safety in the state of South Australia. We wholeheartedly support this motion in an act of bipartisanship. For those in the gallery today, I would like to emphasise that that is a common thing in South Australia, not the rarity.

We grieve with the many Ukrainians here today. We grieve with the many Ukrainians who live in South Australia, whether they have lived here for a number of generations or whether they have found themselves, perhaps unexpectedly, living in South Australia as a consequence of the current conflict. We acknowledge the immense personal consequences of this aggression, which has come as the result of Vladimir Putin's completely unprovoked actions.

We acknowledge the 40,000 deaths, the more than 90,000 casualties that we know of and the more than 40 million people who have been displaced, displaced to neighbouring countries, displaced to other places around the globe. We also acknowledge the countries that have taken perhaps a more significant share of those displaced people. I particularly think of Poland and the Polish people and what they have done through this time.

We honour the victims of this horrific invasion, but we also extend the hand of friendship and unwavering support to those who are left behind, those who are uncertain as to the fate of family members and who every night go to bed worrying about the news that they might hear when they wake up in the morning.

As the Premier said, Vladimir Putin was expected to roll into Ukraine and take that country within a matter of weeks. That has not been the case. That is a tremendous testament to the resilience, the willpower and the solidarity of the Ukrainian people and, of course, the phenomenal leadership of a man that many of us had not even heard of as little as 12 months ago, President Zelenskyy, and those who support him. This has been an example of a relatively small nation, compared to its aggressor, standing up, holding its own and communicating to the world and its allies—and building allies as it has gone—that this sort of behaviour cannot and will not be tolerated.

I think the message of President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people is quite clear: if they fall, who will be next? That is something each and every one of us, particularly those who occupy positions of privilege in governments, such as the Premier and myself and the people elected to this chamber, need to bear at the forefront of our minds.

Our message today is that Australia is in absolute united solidarity with the Ukrainian people. Over the last 12 months since that illegal invasion, Australia has committed $655 million worth of assistance to Ukraine, including $475 million in military aid and the provision of 70 army trainers. But it is not just about financial support. I hope that each and every one of those who make up the Ukrainian community in South Australia has felt the warmth of partnership and the loving embrace, both literal and metaphorical, that the South Australian people have extended to the growing Ukrainian community here. Australia may provide military equipment. It may provide vehicles and training, but humanitarian support, both on the ground in Ukraine and in South Australia and the nation at large, is a critical part of the way that we can support you.

In South Australia, we have welcomed Ukrainians with open arms by providing visas to Ukrainian nationals, and several thousand of these have been granted across the nation of Australia. We are proud to have our Ukrainian community so strongly represented here today, and I want to particularly thank the Association of Ukrainians in South Australia under Frank Fursenko's leadership, for the way that you have worked so hard to raise awareness of the situation in your homeland, to teach us about your culture, to spread the message not only of the military invasion but of how South Australia can stand up and how South Australians—both governments and communities—can help. Frank, to you and your association, thank you.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS: Democracy is something that we take for granted here in South Australia, there is no doubt about that. It is a good thing that we can take it for granted, but across the world democracy is enjoyed by only just over 50 per cent of our planet's population. Democracy across the globe is in decline: it is not on the rise. We need to cleave on to our democratic principles here in South Australia, but we also need to stand up for democratic principles when we see it under threat, under aggression in other parts of the world.

The Premier and I can have a conversation. We can pick up the phone and talk to one another. We can walk out of here and have a joke together. There are many, many places in the world where that is not possible. So let's be thankful for what we have here, but let's do our bit to support the Ukrainian people at this time, to push back against that aggressor, to give you the confidence that this battle can be won—the many battles can be won—and that you have the solidarity of the 1.7 or so million people in South Australia and 25 point something million people in Australia.

But actually you have allies in every corner of the globe rooting for you, that your people very soon will be free again to go about their business, to feel safe in their beds at night, to celebrate your culture, and to once again go back to providing the many things that you provided to the globe, whether that is food or fibre, whether it is natural resources or whether it is the stories and the traditions of your culture that you have spread across the planet. Thank you for all of that. Let us cleave on to the values of democracy. Let us fight for Ukraine, whether that be in a physical sense or whether it be by coming together in resilient solidarity with you all.

We stand with you, Ukraine, and as this motion states, and as I say in complete solidarity with the Premier, we will continue to do so for as long as it takes to ensure peace and independence is returned to the Ukrainian people. Slava Ukraini.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!

The SPEAKER (17:28): Before I turn to the minister, I think it is right that I add from the chair, given that this is a most certainly bipartisan position. Today, this is your parliament as well as it is ours. This is your democracy as well as it is ours. South Australia has long been a place of safety from persecution. We hope to continue to offer you every support including, of course, this motion before the house today.

I add this on a very personal note. My brother lives in Vienna with his wife. He works in and through the diplomatic community and has been closely involved in supporting in his own life as many refugees as he possibly can. It is something that is close to his heart, but it is also something that he is involved in by way of his work.

I mention that only to say that it has been the insight that he has provided to me that has made me understand how important your struggle is not only to you, to Ukraine and to the West, as the Premier and the opposition leader have made clear in the house today, but also to each of us in South Australia who believes that democracy is a fragile and delicate thing and that it is important for us personally to make a contribution, even in a small way, wherever we can.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON (Ramsay—Minister for Tourism, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (17:29): I rise to support this motion, and I echo the words of the Premier and opposition leader on our support and compassion towards our Ukrainian South Australians during this distressing time. In early 2022, South Australians watched on in horror as the unthinkable quickly became a reality: a land war in Europe. But this conflict has been so significant because of what it represents: a great power, indeed one of the world's nuclear superpowers, engaging in a violent act of conquest upon a democratic nation. We call upon Russia to end its war. This must end.

The democratic world had hoped that these attempts at total annexation upon a sovereign nation were a thing of the past. We had hoped that the killings, the displacement, the suffering and the generational trauma that these conflicts cause would not happen, but we now find ourselves in a global environment where the promise of safety and peace in democratic and developed nations is no longer assured. I feel so deeply for the Ukrainian people, and I can only imagine what they are enduring right now. Closer to home, I can see the impact that this is having upon our Ukrainian South Australians.

Last year, I hosted a lunch with members of the Ukrainian community to thank them for the support they were giving to Ukrainians finding shelter here in South Australia as well as their fundraising efforts. They relayed to me the simple, horrible truth that they all have relatives who are suffering overseas. Whether they have had their homes torn apart or have been forced to migrate to safety or find themselves on the frontline, their relatives are experiencing a trauma like no other.

We know that this will take decades to recover from and that recovery will not come without the support of friends and allies. The Malinauskas Labor government stands with Ukraine and our Ukrainian South Australians. From the outset, we have made a determined effort to go above and beyond to support our Ukrainian friends. We have provided funding and medical equipment to Ukrainians who need it most. We have legislated to prevent South Australian money from being invested in Russian efforts, to curb their war efforts and to make them feel the economic consequences of their actions.

But most importantly, we have welcomed hundreds of Ukrainians into our state. Along with our colleagues, we have done what we can to support our new residents and support Ukrainians already living here with their own efforts to assist. I have spoken to Ukrainian South Australians who have opened their homes and their hearts to these new arrivals. They are spending countless hours assisting these families to access the social services they need and connect with their loved ones who are suffering at home. They are dedicating every waking hour to this effort, and I stand in awe of their contribution.

On this sad day, the first anniversary of an unjust and violent invasion perpetrated by a dictatorship, I wish to acknowledge the sorrow and trauma felt by Ukrainians here and abroad. The path is uncertain and long, but in South Australia we will continue to support Ukrainians as they navigate these stressful events. You are safe here. You are welcome here. Slava Ukraini.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (17:34): It is with humility that I rise to speak and participate in this motion. I know that every member of this chamber, indeed many South Australians, would have reflections to offer that would endorse entirely the speeches given by the Premier and the Leader of the Opposition, the minister and those to come, in support of this tremendously important motion at this difficult time, as we reflect on one year tomorrow since the invasion of Ukraine.

The historian, Dominic Sandbrook, wrote in a magazine this week and he described it simply: 'The Ukraine war is not complicated. Sometimes good and evil do exist.' In Russia's invasion of Ukraine we see a belligerent aggressor acting in bad faith with intentionally confected motives, spreading hateful propaganda to its own and throughout the world, breaking international law and international conventions, committing war crimes and pursuing a war of conquest.

In Ukraine we see a liberal democracy with all of the complexity and all of the complications and diversity that liberal democracies around the world, particularly new democracies, face. But, ultimately, we see a country whose people value freedom and self-determination, a country that has faced trauma before and demonstrated a resilience and recovery from trauma before over hundreds of years, a country whose people have stunned the world in the last year with their strength of shared purpose, their determination to secure a peaceful future and the restoration of their land.

Ukraine is not Russia. To say that Russian-speaking Ukrainians, such as President Zelenskyy himself, to name one, consider themselves Russian is foolish and probably as offensive as to suggest that an English-speaking Irish person considers themselves English. It is very clear that Ukrainian people, including in the disputed territories, overwhelmingly reject Russian claims on their land. Donetsk is Ukraine, Luhansk is Ukraine.

Russia acknowledged Ukraine sovereignty on a number of occasions after the fall of the Soviet Union, notably in 1994 through the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances when Ukraine along with Kazakhstan and Belarus gave away their nuclear arsenal and in return Russia committed to refrain from the use of force, refrain from the threat of the use of force, refrain from economic coercion, and to respect those other countries' independence and sovereignty within existing borders.

That document was signed by Boris Yeltsin. His successor, Vladimir Putin, has effectively shredded it over the last decade as he seeks to emulate his hero, Peter the Great, in an horrific vanity exercise that has killed tens of thousands of Russians as well as Ukrainians, destroyed towns and cities and displaced millions. History, as I think the Premier and the Leader of the Opposition both reflected in their different words, will remember Vladimir Putin as a mad dictator who tried to break the world.

Despite Russian propaganda's extraordinary and laughable efforts to paint his Ukrainian counterpart, President Zelenskyy, as a villain, President Zelenskyy has shown himself to be an extraordinary leader, somebody who has been a figure of strength in the face of extraordinary adversity, a figure of national unity and international solidarity and stature. He leads the defence of his country and he has succeeded in communicating effectively and engaging with the world, including here in Australia.

Australia has stood united. In February last year we had Liberal state and federal governments standing side by side and supported by Labor state and federal oppositions, and a year later we have Labor state and federal governments standing side by side and supported by Liberal oppositions in their bipartisan support for Ukraine, and that will continue to be the case.

Australia has supported Ukraine with aid and humanitarian assistance, material assistance and weapons. We have provided support for Ukrainians who have come to South Australia and whether financial support, humanitarian efforts or other direct action, Australia and South Australia have stood as one in support of our Ukrainian community here too.

I note the many South Australians who have volunteered their efforts to provide humanitarian assistance either here or overseas and, in particular, many members of the Ukrainian community in South Australia have done so, and to that community—so many of whom have known their own loss and their own trauma through grief, through family members, friends and loved ones—we thank you for your extraordinary efforts in supporting those Ukrainians who have come to South Australia and ensuring that the South Australian community has been engaged in what you have been going through at every turn. I know that here in this chamber and around our state, in making reflections on this anniversary we also reflect on the many innocent lives that have been lost as a result of this invasion.

One year ago tomorrow, we hoped for the best and I think that many of us feared for the worst. One year on, we have all been given heart by the strength and resilience of Ukraine and by the solidarity that has been demonstrated by those Western liberal democracies around the world that the Premier spoke of who have stood firm with Ukraine, who have continued to provide material and military and humanitarian assistance, who have not been swayed, who, as the Leader of the Opposition noted, have been swayed by the message that if Ukraine falls then who will be next? Dominic Sandbrook finished his article with a simple statement:

Good versus evil; right versus wrong. In a complicated world, sometimes it really is that simple.

Slava Ukraini.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS (Cheltenham—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services) (17:40): I rise today to provide a brief contribution in support of this very important motion. There is very little that I can add that has not already been put by the Premier, the Leader of the Opposition and other speakers.

On 25 February last year, I stood, as did the member for Morphett, with the Ukrainian community. One day into this illegal occupation, this illegal war, we stood and unequivocally on behalf of leaders in this state pinned our colours to the wall. In doing so and in rising today, I do so proudly knowing that the Ukrainian people are on the right side of history. They are on the right side of history and will remain on the right side of history.

Whilst other speakers today have rightfully reflected on the sadness and the loss that one year into this devastating conflict has brought us, I want to reflect on the bravery and the stoicism of the Ukrainian people who are fighting with every bit of their being for their freedom, for their language, for their nation. They do so being dislocated from their family, from their friends. They are often—as I have met so many people who are now calling South Australia home—men who are dislocated from their wives, their children. And they fight. They fight because there is no other option but to fight for Ukraine.

In the bravery and stoicism that we have seen, we have also seen a remarkable global solidarity that we do not often get to see, because of immense headwinds of complications around geopolitical politics. But this has largely brought together the world, because we are a people who believe in basic freedoms. It is not just the globe, it is also the internationalism for which Australia is renowned—not just in the years 2022 and 2023 but a proud history as a nation of standing with international solidarity and in international solidarity with those who pursue the same ideals that we do: freedom and democracy.

We have seen firsthand the grace of South Australia. The Premier, the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Morialta have discussed the open arms with which our state has opened ourselves to Ukrainian displaced people. Again, this is not new. It is the same freedom that the Minister for Small Business's parents found, the same freedom that welcomed the Premier's grandparents, the same freedom that my father found. That is what I want to reflect on today.

I also want to say how personally inspired I am by the Ukrainian community of South Australia, how inspired I am by my friends from the Ukrainian community of South Australia: the artists, the dancers, the musicians who continue to give themselves to raise funds for the conflict and the relief. The teachers who have taken it upon themselves to teach English to new arrivals. Swimming teachers are taking young Ukrainian children to the beach in a way that is so uniquely South Australian.

Today and every day I know that Ukraine is on the right side of history. Tomorrow will be a difficult day for Ukrainians, for the local Ukrainian community. I am sure and I know that tomorrow there will be some tears shed, some laughter, but there will be a reflection on the sad loss that we have seen. There will be an acknowledgement of the enormous task at hand, but in doing so it will be with optimism, knowing that Ukrainian people are brave, knowing that Ukrainian people will fight and knowing that freedom, no matter how hard the pursuit is, will always succeed. Slava Ukraini.

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (17:45): I am proud and privileged here today to support this motion in support of Ukraine and all its people:

That this house—

(a) notes with great sadness that 24 February 2023 marks the first anniversary of the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine;

(b) deplores the actions of Russia invading Ukraine and calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the total withdrawal of Russian forces;

(c) notes the terrible toll caused by the war with international estimates of more than 40,000 deaths, more than 90,000 casualties and the displacement of more than 14 million people;

(d) affirms the resolutions of the 11th emergency session of the United Nations General Assembly, calling for the full protection of civilians, including humanitarian personal, journalists and vulnerable persons;

(e) congratulates South Australians for the warmth and friendship they have shown Ukrainians, displaced by the conflict, who have settled in our great state; and

(f) resolves to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes, to ensure peace and independence is returned for the Ukrainian people—SLAVA UKRAINI!

On 24 February 2022 Russia invaded Ukraine in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, which began in 2014, with the annexation of Crimea. Putin fully underestimated the capability of the Ukraine. I think he thought he would be in and out in three weeks. The invasion has caused tens of thousands of deaths on both sides and instigated Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II. About eight million Ukrainians were displaced within their country by June 2022, and more than eight million had fled the country by February 2023.

The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution condemning the invasion and demanding a full withdrawal of Russian forces. The International Court of Justice ordered Russia to suspend military operations, and the Council of Europe expelled Russia. Many countries, including Australia, have imposed sanctions on Russia and on its ally Belarus, and provided humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine.

Protests have occurred around the world. Those in Russia were met with mass arrests and increased media censorship. I am very proud of the aid our state and our country has provided Ukraine, and in response to the illegal invasion Australia has worked with partners to support Ukraine and hold Russia accountable for its actions. This includes committing military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, providing duty free access for Ukrainian imports, prioritising visa applications from Ukrainian nationals and imposing sanctions on Russia and Belarussian individuals and organisations, among others. As of October 2022, Australia has provided Ukraine with a total of approximately $655 million in support, including $475 million in military assistance. This commitment demonstrates our proud country's continued commitment and support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

I want to spend a few moments talking about the agricultural powerhouse that Ukraine is, which has come to note so much more with this conflict. Ukraine is one of the world's top agricultural producers and exporters and plays a critical role in supplying oilseeds and grains to the global market. More than 55 per cent of Ukraine's land area is arable land. Agriculture provides employment for 14 per cent of Ukraine's population.

Agricultural products are Ukraine's most important exports. In 2021, they totalled $27.8 billion, accounting for 41 per cent of the country's $68 billion in overall exports. Ukraine produces one-third of the world's sunflower oil and accounts for nearly half of the world's global exports. Those exports were valued at $6.4 billion in 2021. For rapeseed, Ukraine is the world's sixth largest producer and third largest exporter, with shipments totalling $1.7 billion in 2021. Ukraine is the world's sixth largest corn producer and was forecast to be the fourth largest exporter in marketing year 2021-22.

For soybeans, Ukraine is the world's ninth largest producer and seventh largest exporter, with sales valued at $600 million in 2021. Ukraine is the world's seventh largest wheat producer and was forecast to be the fifth largest exporter for the 2021-22 marketing year. What has happened with the war has reduced cereals and oilseeds export availability from Ukraine and is pushing up international food and feed prices.

Moreover, global energy and fertiliser prices have increased from their already high levels due to Russia's aggression and the resulting uncertainty related to the availability of Russian energy and fertiliser globally. As the agrifood sector is highly energy intensive, rising energy and fertiliser prices are translating into higher production costs and contributing to food price increases.

In regard to the military aid that our great country has supported Ukraine with through that $475 million, it is delivering important capabilities to the Ukrainian armed forces and supporting its defence. I want to acknowledge the many hundreds of thousands of troops in Ukraine doing such a great job in pushing back the aggressor. In that, I want to acknowledge, alongside the men, the at least 50,000 women in your armed forces, with at least 5,000 of those serving on the frontline.

Australia has also deployed Australian Defence Force personnel to the United Kingdom to provide training to Ukrainian troops through Operation Interflex. We are currently providing an additional 30 Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles to Ukraine, bringing the total number of gifted Bushmasters to 90.

I want to acknowledge the great battle that Ukraine is undertaking and acknowledge the support we have given both here and across Australia. It is a fight Ukraine must win and will win, and I salute you. Slava Ukraini.

Ms HUTCHESSON (Waite) (17:53): I am honoured to have been asked to speak to this motion. As the Ukrainian people, you have stolen my heart. In July last year, I stood here and spoke about our government's actions in removing state government funds from Russian investments. I said I could never have imagined that in 2022 we would be in a position where there is a war raging in Europe and that the whole country is being decimated. It is now seven months later and, heartbreakingly, the conflict is still devastating the lives of the Ukrainian people.

Tomorrow marks the one-year anniversary of the illegal Russian invasion and there is no end in sight. This morning, the media reported that China and Russia have reaffirmed their close bilateral relationship and I fear for what comes next. Ukrainian people have had to bear witness to the worst example of human behaviour. In 2023, the world should not be accepting this kind of warfare—surely, we are more mature than that. This motion calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the total withdrawal of Russian forces. The world needs to come together to stamp out this barbaric attack on democracy.

The pictures we see, the news reports and the books we read all paint a picture of courage and resilience, but how much can these people bear? With international estimates of more than 40,000 deaths and 90,000 casualties, the fallout has been catastrophic. The displacement of Ukrainians continues, with over 14 million forced to flee their homes. They are running for their lives, but those who are left behind, some choosing to stand and fight—fighting for their country and for their independence—face danger every minute. The scenes of bravery fill our TV channels, and I hope that the Ukrainians continue to have the strength to defend what is rightfully theirs.

South Australians have opened their hearts and their doors to the Ukrainian people, with over 400 settling here in the last year alone. I have been fortunate to speak with some of these brave people who are now making Adelaide their home, and their stories are heartbreaking. The sadness is just behind their eyes; you can feel it and see it as they tell you about their experience, about who they have had to leave behind and about their hopes for the future. Our government has continued to provide significant support to these resilient, courageous people, as outlined by the Premier and previous members.

I am proud to say that my own community have also come together to assist. In June last year, Blackwood Action Group and the Blackwood Uniting Church organised a fundraising fashion show, which allowed local businesses to show off their latest styles. It was lovely to see over $6,700 raised, which went directly to displaced people who are now calling SA home.

At this show I met an incredible Ukrainian who is doing everything she can to help Ukrainians, both here and overseas, and that is Diane, and she is here today. Diane gave a very touching presentation about what was happening in Ukraine, and I know that many in the audience were heartbroken. Diane let me know that the Ukraine language school, where she volunteers two days a week, was hoping to send the newly arrived students on camp, but the cost was proving difficult to make that happen. The Blackwood Hills Circle of Friends were incredible and donated much of the funds to pay for the camp for the children, and I thank them for the work that they do in supporting refugees.

Zonta, Coromandel Rotary and Blackwood Rotary came together to provide the funds needed to pay for the bus. I was incredibly heartened to also hear the story of Deanna Kernick, a local artist in Blackwood, who created a beautiful mosaic sunflower that Zonta used as a fundraiser. Deanna was so generous that, in the end, she actually purchased the art herself as it meant so much to her, contributing over $500 to the cause.

But the group of students still needed sleeping bags. I was proud to be able to deliver 49 sleeping bags to Iryna at the language school, gratefully donated by many here in this chamber. I also had the pleasure of meeting some of the children, including Taras and Nazar, who, along with their friends, let me know that they had a good stash of lollies to take with them in their sleeping bags. I am glad that we were able to help them with this.

Diane continues her work supporting refugees and has started a campaign to help rebuild and refurnish a school in Ukraine. With over 270 schools destroyed already, Diane has a strong concern for young children still living in Ukraine, whose lives have been thrown into complete chaos and who will be in desperate need to have the stability of school available as soon as possible. I am sure you have all seen the pictures of children continuing their studies in bunkers. I cannot imagine the impact this would be having. I congratulate Diane and all her helpers on their ongoing work and support. Tomorrow, Akkerman & Dyer Wood Oven Bakery in Blackwood are supporting Diane in her cause by having a Ukraine-inspired menu, donating $2 from every meal sold to help rebuild the school. I am looking forward to enjoying that.

These are small examples of how South Australians are here for you, and I know they are mirrored across the state, the nation and the world. I take this opportunity to encourage all here to think about how they may be able to help Diane with this important cause. I am really proud that my community continues to come together to help support our new friends, and I hope you know that we are here for you.

I would like to acknowledge Frank and the Association of Ukrainians in South Australia and the Ukraine language school, who have been working tirelessly to support new arrivals, including sourcing accommodation, providing essential supplies and linking them to settlement services.

I have been very fortunate to be able to attend various events where there has been Ukrainian dance and singing, and I thank all Ukrainians for sharing so generously their culture. I am saddened that many are here because of the war but glad South Australians have embraced them with open arms. I stand with the Ukrainian people: for your home, for your independence and for your livelihoods. Slava Ukraini.

The Hon. D.G. PISONI (Unley) (17:59): In 1990, the Ukrainian parliament declared its independence from the Soviet Union. In August of that same year, Ukraine declared its independence for a second time after a failed coup in Moscow. The Soviet Union finally dissolved in December and Ukraine officially became an independent country after a landslide victory of 92 per cent of votes in favour.

After this, Ukraine sought to establish relations with the Western world. In 1992, Ukraine formally established relations with NATO, although it did not join the alliance. In 1994, Ukraine signed the Budapest Memorandum, which saw it give up its nuclear arsenal in exchange for guarantees of respect for its sovereignty and independence from the US, the UK and, of course, Russia.

Ukraine has since had a complicated relationship with Russia. This relationship was the catalyst for the current crisis. In 2004, there was a presidential election in Ukraine that was marred by allegations of rigging in favour of Viktor Yanukovych who was supported by the Russian President, Vladimir Putin.

The public outcry that followed became known as the Orange Revolution. The opposition candidate, Viktor Yushchenko, was declared the winner after a third vote. Yushchenko was a pro-Western, free-market president who sought to bring Ukraine into NATO.

In 2008, he and then Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, formally requested that Ukraine be granted a membership action plan, which is the first step in the process of joining the alliance. Although the US supported Ukraine's membership, France and Germany opposed it after Russia voiced its displeasure. NATO compromised by promising that Ukraine would one day be a member of the alliance but did not put into place a specific pathway on how they could do so.

In January 2009, Gazprom, the state-owned Russian gas company, suddenly stopped pumping natural gas into Ukraine following months of politically fought negotiations over gas prices. Because Eastern and Central European countries rely on pipelines through Ukraine to receive gas imports from Russia, the gas crisis quickly spread beyond Ukraine's borders. Tymoshenko negotiated a new deal with Putin and gas flows resumed on 20 January.

In 2010, Putin-backed Yanukovych was elected president and he said that Ukraine should be a neutral state, cooperating with both Russia and Western alliances, like NATO. However, his presidency was fraught with allegations of corruption. In 2014, a public outcry began. Anti-government protests broke out on Independence Square, also known as Maidan. The protestors were calling for the ousting of Yanukovych over corruption and his decision to abandon the planned trade agreement with the European Union.

In February 2014, he was ousted and Ukraine became embroiled in a crisis that continues to this day. In March of that year, Russia annexed Crimea, which had previously been a part of Ukraine. Separatists backed by Russia also took control of two regions in eastern Ukraine. Violence in the region has since claimed more than 14,000 lives. Ukraine has since turned away from Moscow and towards the West, with popular support on the rise for joining Western alliances such as NATO and the European Union.

As Ukraine has sought to establish relations with the West, its relationship with Russia has been the catalyst for this war only because Putin has not got his way. In the months leading up to February 2022, Russia has been amassing troops around Ukraine, with over 80,000 troops moving into the region in March and April the previous year. More troops were added later, exceeding 130,000.

In December 2021, Moscow issued a series of demands including that Ukraine never be granted NATO membership and that the NATO alliance be rolled back from Eastern Europe. In January 2022, both the US and NATO formally rejected these demands, while remaining on high alert that an invasion could be imminent.

Russian President Vladimir Putin consistently maintained that Russia had no intention of invading Ukraine. It was no secret that Putin's motivations to invade were to stop Ukraine from joining NATO; reunite Soviet countries, increasing Putin's domestic influence; and provide guaranteed access to fresh water for the Crimean Peninsula

On 24 February, Putin ordered a military offensive and troops advanced on Ukraine's borders with explosions heard in Ukrainian cities. Tomorrow, our thoughts will be with Ukraine and its people all over the world on the one-year anniversary of this act of war. Slava Ukraini.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK (Stuart—Minister for Local Government, Minister for Regional Roads, Minister for Veterans Affairs) (18:04): It is with humility that I speak here today on this motion, introduced by the Premier of the state and fully endorsed by everybody in this house. One year ago tomorrow, on my birthday, a terrifying conflict occurred across the world between Russia and Ukraine, leaving a trail of senseless destruction and loss of life across not only there but the rest of the world as we witnessed a terrible act of violence, intrusion and invasion by a country that should never have to do this sort of thing.

This war is devastating for the people of Ukraine. Its terrible impact and its effect on people is immeasurable, and the effects will be felt for many years to come. I just cannot understand how the heck a person in this world could do such atrocities to people across in another country. It is important that we gather here today to acknowledge the anniversary of this conflict. According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, it is estimated that more than 40,000 deaths have occurred and nearly 90,000 casualties.

As mentioned earlier tonight, over 14 million people have been displaced. Countless families now grieve the loss of loved ones killed in the conflict, maimed, injured and mentally impaired for the rest of their lives. Homes have been destroyed and people forced to flee, with people becoming refugees in their own country. This is an outright outrage and the world should not be tolerating what has happened.

The trauma inflicted on civilians, soldiers and their families cannot be measured. The damage done to the infrastructure and the economy of this country will take years to repair. Sometimes we see movies reflecting this sort of impact, but it is not real. We look at the coverage every night of the damage in Ukraine, and I believe we cannot understand what the impact is upon communities over there, with their homes destroyed, their lives destroyed and their families destroyed. There are people here today and in other parts of Australia who have families across there watching this destruction, and we are helpless. We cannot all be there to help these people out. To see that every night is so traumatic.

It has been mentioned before that this country is a democratic country. We have democracy here. The Premier and the Leader of the Opposition have made it quite clear that we can have our discussions, we can have our arguments, we can have our disagreements and we walk away tomorrow maybe not agreeing, but we are still here in this free country, and that is something we should not take for granted. We should be very appreciative of that.

Sadly, reparations cannot even begin to be considered. The conflict continues and more people will die. This is a sad certainty. As I said, you see the damage every night on the TV and you think: how can this country continue on? The people of Ukraine have the greatest courage and strength of anyone that I have seen in my life. We have all seen tragedies, we have seen other wars, but this one is absolutely senseless, and Putin needs to be brought to account for it.

Beyond the immediate human cost, the war between Russia and Ukraine has also created instability around the globe. Everywhere around the globe we are feeling that but no more than the people of Ukraine. There is the issue of farmers, and the member for Hammond talked about the production of grain and grain facilities in Ukraine. At one stage, even though they were farming it, they could not get it out there, so how would they be able to live without being able to get that across? The rest of the world was suffering because of that.

It has disrupted the global economy and destabilised neighbouring countries. It feeds new tensions between the world's two superpowers. The collaboration between Russia and China was mentioned a bit earlier. It is a worrying fact. Where is it going to go? We must also remember that it is the people who continue to suffer.

Civilians caught in the crossfire continue to live without access to necessities like food, water and health care. Children growing up in a war-torn environment have been deprived of their livelihoods. That is something we take for granted here in the Western world: our children can grow up and have a life going forward. For the people of Ukraine, in the future their children will have the scars of this for the rest of their lives.

This is something that really hurts me, because we are all family people here and we all have freedom and things like that. Previous members have mentioned, as I say, democracy. We have a democracy here and Ukraine is a democratic country. We must consider the mental trauma for families, particularly the children. We must urge and support our national government to continue to offer support for those who are affected by the conflict. As leaders here in South Australia, we must always promote peace and stability.

In closing, I will congratulate everybody in this chamber for supporting this motion by the Premier, also solidly endorsed by the Leader of the Opposition and 100 per cent supported by everybody in this chamber. Some may not be in this chamber at the moment, but I know everybody in this parliament, in this house and in the upper house support this and they have solidarity with and support for the Ukrainian people.

I have a multicultural community in my town of Port Pirie. We have different nationalities there. We live in peace. We learn from each other. We learn from the lifestyle. We learn from the families. We learn from the food. We learn from education. We learn from everything. Again, my thoughts and prayers are not only with the people and the families here in South Australia but also with the families and the soldiers in particular who are still fighting for freedom in Ukraine. Slava Ukraini.

Mr BATTY (Bragg) (18:11): I rise to add my support to this motion marking the first anniversary of Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine. One year ago when Putin commenced this unprovoked, illegal and immoral attack on Ukraine, most analysts at that time—and I dare say many intelligence agencies—did not predict that that attack would last long enough for us to be marking this sad anniversary today.

Such predictions of a swift Russian victory were just as swiftly proven wrong because they did not appreciate and anticipate the resolve of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people to fight, to defend their independence, their state and their freedoms. They did not appreciate the effectiveness of the Ukrainian people in fighting for those freedoms. They did not anticipate the groundswell of support that we have seen for Ukraine from its partners and allies across the democratic world, including right here in Australia and indeed South Australia.

Despite being some 14,000 kilometres away from Kyiv, the people of South Australia have stood and will continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes for them to secure their peace and their independence. We do so because we know that bombs and shells falling on peaceful towns and cities is wrong. We do so as well because we know that those bombs and shells also represent an attack on our own democratic values and the rules-based international order.

As President Zelenskyy has pointed out, the fate of the world based on rules, based on humanity, based on predictability is being decided right now in Ukraine. Our message here today in South Australia is that we are going to be with you every step of the way. South Australia has a small but strong Ukrainian community which has come together over the past year to support each other and to support their country.

This community has raised funds, raised awareness and worked with displaced Ukrainians arriving in our state. I thank you all and I particularly thank and acknowledge my own constituent, Mr Frank Fursenko, who in his role as President of the Association of Ukrainians in South Australia has done incredible work over the past year. It is so important, and I thank him so much.

I am so proud of his work, just as I am proud of the work of state and federal governments from across the political spectrum, just as I am proud of the work of the whole South Australian community in coming together to support Ukraine in this time of need. We know it is a dire time of need. We have heard about the humanitarian situation in Ukraine from other speakers in this house. We have heard about the devastating cost of war from other speakers in this house.

To those Ukrainians who have found themselves here in South Australia, we offer you our support, we offer you our warmth, we offer you our friendship. To all Ukrainians, we offer you our unconditional support for as long as it takes.

To Russia, we say, 'Stop this ongoing violation of international law. Stop this illegal attack, this immoral attack on Ukraine.' Slava Ukraini.

Motion carried.

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