The Australian Greens condemn Vladimir Putin’s military aggression in the Ukraine, as we condemn all military aggression. We call on all parties to remember the human cost of war and to work peacefully through diplomatic channels to de-escalate the situation.

We affirm the right of the people of Ukraine to sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Australian Greens foreign affairs spokesperson Senator Janet Rice has condemned the Australian Government’s resounding inaction against the Myanmar military and again urged the Foreign Minister to impose targeted sanctions against Junta leaders and their business interests.

Senator Rice said:

“It’s now been a year since the coup in Myanmar, the brutal junta are still in power, and the Australian Government has done nothing but sit on its hands watching the body count pile up and democracy fade into memory.

The Australian Greens are horrified by the ongoing escalation in violence in Israel and Palestine, which has resulted in more than 109 Palestinians and 7 Israelis being killed. 

Senator Janet Rice, Australian Greens foreign affairs spokesperson, said:

“This escalation in violence follows the threatened evictions of Palestinian families from East Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah to make way for Israeli settlers, and the restrictions and violence against worshippers at Al-Aqsa mosque during Ramadan. 

Greens MPs today are calling on the Federal Government to step up and redouble its efforts for the people of India and provide much needed assistance as the country battles millions of current cases. 

India is currently facing a tragic second wave of COVID19 with a record 349,691 new cases on Sunday and 2,767 deaths. Hospitals are running out of medical supplies including oxygen and basic medicines, there aren’t enough hospital beds or ventilators. Cremation and burial sites are over capacity for the first time in recent memory. 

Following the announcement by the EU, UK, US and Canada of targeted sanctions against Chinese officials responsible for gross human rights abuses in Xinjiang province, the Australian Greens have called on the Australian Government to take urgent action. 

Senator Janet Rice, Australian Greens Foreign Affairs spokesperson, said:

“The Chinese Government is committing cultural genocide against the Uighur people. Xinjiang is under mass surveillance and more than one million people have been captured and put in internment camps. 

Greens Foreign Affairs spokesperson Senator Janet Rice said Morrison’s delay in getting stranded Australians home is unacceptable and has called on the government to urgently increase federal resources to boost quarantining capacity across the country.

Senator Rice said:

“Morrison has finally acted in announcing an expansion to quarantine facilities at Howard Springs, but it has taken him too long, and the solution is nowhere near good enough.