Sunday 4 October 2026
Afternoon EditionRSS
ZOTPAPER

News without the noise

ZOTPAPER
Australia

New Greens leader Shoebridge sets defence red lines: no Ukraine arms, no US bases

David Shoebridge says Australia should halt military support for Ukraine, evict US from Pine Gap and scrap AUKUS

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
Newly elected Greens leader David Shoebridge has declared Australia should not provide any military support to Ukraine and called for the United States to be evicted from prized defence facilities including the Pine Gap surveillance base, setting out a radical overhaul of Australia's foreign policy and alliances.

Senator David Shoebridge, who won a partyroom ballot for the Greens leadership after Larissa Waters stepped down due to kidney disease, said he planned to retain the portfolios of defence and foreign affairs and would continue grilling officials at Senate estimates hearings.

Shoebridge told The Age in an interview that the party's position on Ukraine had been consistent. "The Greens have been clear from day one that we're a party of peace and non-violence, and we don't support military aid to the Ukraine," he said.

The NSW Senator also called for the US-Australia alliance to be overhauled, including evicting the US from facilities such as Pine Gap. He said he believed the Greens could win votes by campaigning to scrap the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine pact and legalise recreational cannabis.

Shoebridge strongly rejected accusations by Labor MP Josh Burns, who had said the new Greens leader was prejudiced against Jewish Australians and placed them in good or bad categories based on their position on the war in Gaza. Shoebridge labelled Burns "appalling" for the remark.

The party's defence stance, including opposition to military aid for Ukraine, has not previously gained significant attention, according to the report.

§

Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The Greens are a minor party but can influence Senate debates and public discourse, potentially shifting the narrative on Australia's defence posture and aid to Ukraine.
  • Shoebridge's hardline positions on AUKUS and the US alliance could become a wedge issue in the next federal election, appealing to voters sceptical of military pacts.
  • The accusation of prejudice against Jewish Australians adds a contentious personal dimension that could complicate the Greens' broader electoral strategy.

Background

David Shoebridge, a NSW Senator and former barrister, has a reputation as a fierce interrogator at Senate estimates hearings. He won the Greens leadership after Larissa Waters stepped down because of kidney disease. The Greens are a left-wing party focused on environmental and social justice issues, traditionally advocating pacifism and non-violence. The AUKUS pact, signed in 2021, involves Australia acquiring nuclear-powered submarines with US and UK technology. Pine Gap, near Alice Springs, is a joint US-Australian intelligence facility central to the military alliance.

Key Perspectives

Greens (David Shoebridge): Australia should end all military support to Ukraine, evict the US from Pine Gap and other defence facilities, and scrap the AUKUS submarine deal. He argues the party can win votes on these platforms alongside legalising cannabis. Government and mainstream parties: Shoebridge's positions represent a sharp break from bipartisan support for the US alliance and for Ukraine. Labor and the Coalition are likely to oppose any cuts to military aid or base access. Critics (Josh Burns, Labor MP): Burns accused Shoebridge of prejudice against Jewish Australians, a charge Shoebridge described as appalling. The war in Gaza has sharpened divisions within the Greens and between the party and Labor.

What to Watch

  • How Shoebridge performs at upcoming Senate estimates hearings, where he has a track record of intense questioning.
  • The Greens' electoral performance at the next federal election, particularly whether their defence stance gains or loses support.
  • Progress on AUKUS: any legislative hurdles the Greens could exploit to delay or block the submarine pact.
  • The broader reaction from the US and Ukrainian officials to Shoebridge's calls.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

How we workReport an errorSubscribe