Greens at odds over sending weapons to Ukraine

Greens politicians in Australia are divided over the decision to provide military aid to Ukraine, with Senator Sarah Hanson-Young backing the move while her party's newly appointed leader, David Shoebridge, is opposed. Senator Hanson-Young emphasized that Australians should support Ukraine in defending themselves from the Russian invasion, while Shoebridge argued that military assistance should only be given under the United Nations Security Council's oversight, which is unlikely due to Russia's veto power.

Australia has already provided Ukraine with nearly $1.9 billion in support since the February 2022 invasion, including air defense equipment, munitions, and training. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recently met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at the UN General Assembly, agreeing to provide an additional $60 million in funding and to bolster Ukraine's navy through a maritime coalition.

Despite a proposed "energy ceasefire" declared by former President Donald Trump, both sides have continued attacking each other's energy infrastructure. The Greens will also have to consider the government's proposed digital duty of care laws and changes to taxes on trusts, which are expected to be discussed further during the current parliamentary session in Canberra.