Greens leader David Shoebridge faced embarrassment on Wednesday when the Russian ambassador attended his National Press Club address, where he reiterated his party's refusal to provide military aid to Ukraine. Shoebridge said he did not invite Ambassador Mikhail Petrakov and considered him unwelcome, but doubled down on the Greens' policy of withholding weapons, prompting sharp criticism from Labor, the Coalition and Ukraine's envoy.
Greens leader David Shoebridge defended his party's refusal to provide military aid to Ukraine during a National Press Club address on Wednesday, even as the Russian ambassador sat in the audience. Shoebridge said he did not invite Mikhail Petrakov and considered him unwelcome, telling Nine News the ambassador was "one hundred per cent not welcome". He reiterated the Greens' support for Ukraine through humanitarian aid and sanctions but said the party refuses military aid due to its commitment to peace and non-violence.
Ukraine's ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, said he found it "really appalling" that Petrakov attended, arguing that the Greens' position effectively aligns with Russia's priorities. He pointed out that the German Greens support military aid for Ukraine and urged the Australian party to follow suit.
Labor Assistant Minister for Defence Peter Khalil said Shoebridge's first policy statement as leader was to oppose $1.8 billion in military aid, a move he said "only person that helps is Vladimir Putin". Opposition defence minister James Paterson said he was not surprised Petrakov was present, describing the Greens' foreign policy under Shoebridge as "Putin-friendly" and accusing the party of wanting to hand Russia a veto over Australian aid decisions through the United Nations Security Council.
Within the Greens, senator Sarah Hanson-Young has publicly broken with Shoebridge on the issue. She told the ABC's 7.30 program that military aid should be provided if that is what Ukrainians need to defend themselves. Paterson commended her stance.
The controversy comes four years after Shoebridge was pictured at a dinner with the then-Russian ambassador and Liberal figures, an encounter all involved said was unanticipated.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The debate over Ukraine aid exposes a split within the Australian Greens and between the party and major parties on a key foreign policy issue.
- Russia's ambassador attending the speech highlights the diplomatic optics and how the Greens' stance is perceived internationally.
- Australia has been a significant military aid donor to Ukraine; a major party opposing further aid could affect future bipartisan support.
Background
The Australian Greens have traditionally opposed military interventions and arms exports, advocating non-violence. Since Russia's 2022 invasion, Australia has provided billions in military and humanitarian aid, backed by Labor and the Coalition. The Greens have supported sanctions and humanitarian aid but draw the line at lethal assistance, a position that has drawn repeated criticism from Ukraine and its allies.
Key Perspectives
Greens leader David Shoebridge: The party supports Ukraine's people with sanctions and direct financial aid but refuses military aid out of commitment to peace and non-violence.
Ukraine ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko: The Greens' no-military-aid policy aligns with Russia's priorities; the German Greens support arming Ukraine and the Australian branch should too.
Assistant Defence Minister Peter Khalil (Labor): Shoebridge's opposition to $1.8 billion in military aid helps only Putin.
Opposition defence minister James Paterson (Coalition): The Greens' foreign policy is Putin-friendly and Shoebridge would give Russia a veto over Australian aid through the UN Security Council.
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young: Military aid should be provided if Ukrainians need it to defend themselves; Australia should do everything possible to support them.
What to Watch
- Whether Shoebridge's leadership faces internal party pressure after Hanson-Young's public dissent.
- The government's next aid package for Ukraine and whether the Greens will try to block it in the Senate.
- Any diplomatic response from Ukraine or Russia following the ambassador's attendance.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 9 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe Russian ambassador attended David Shoebridge’s National Press Club address, where Shoebridge defended the Greens’ refusal to provide military aid to Ukraine.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Greens leader David Shoebridge has been embarrassed by the attendance of the Russian ambassador at his inaugural National Press Club address in which he doubled down on calls to deny Ukraine military aid”
- SupportedCritics say the Greens’ policy helps Putin.Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““The first policy pronouncement of the leader of the Greens political party was to say that he does not and will not support our military aid to the brave people of Ukraine over $1.8 billion – the only person that helps is Vladimir Putin,” Assistant Minister for Defence Peter Khalil said.”
- SupportedSarah Hanson-Young has broken with Shoebridge on military aid for Ukraine.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Shoebridge’s Senate colleague Sarah Hanson-Young has already disagreed with his Ukraine stance, saying military aid should be provided if needed.”
- SupportedShoebridge said he did not invite the ambassador and considered him unwelcome, telling Nine News he was “one hundred per cent not welcome”.Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““One hundred per cent not welcome, 100 per cent not invited, I don’t want him here,” he told Nine News.”
- SupportedShoebridge said the Greens support humanitarian aid and sanctions for Ukraine but withhold military aid because of their commitment to peace and non-violence.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “But when challenged by Nine News as to why the Greens’ support doesn’t extend to giving Ukraine military aid, he said the party “hold true to our pillar of peace and non-violence”.”
- SupportedUkraine’s ambassador, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, called Petrakov’s attendance “really appalling”.Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““I just find it really appalling that he actually shows up there.””
- SupportedMyroshnychenko said the Greens’ no-military-aid position aligns with Russia’s priorities.Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““No military aid to Ukraine aligns with the priorities of Russia.””
- SupportedMyroshnychenko said Germany’s Greens support military aid and urged the Australian Greens to follow suit.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “He said the Greens in Germany supported giving Ukraine military aid and the Australian Greens should follow suit.”
- Partly supportedKhalil said Shoebridge’s first policy statement as leader was to oppose $1.8 billion in military aid.Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““The first policy pronouncement of the leader of the Greens political party was to say that he does not and will not support our military aid to the brave people of Ukraine over $1.8 billion””
- Partly supportedPaterson accused the Greens of wanting to give Russia a veto over Australian aid decisions through the UN Security Council.Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““He wants to hand a veto over Australia’s defence assistance for Ukraine to Vladimir Putin through the United Nations Security Council.””
- SupportedHanson-Young said on ABC’s 7.30 that military aid should be provided if Ukrainians need it to defend themselves.Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““If (military aid) is the support that people need in order to defend themselves from the invasion of Russia, I think Australians need to support that.””
- Partly supportedShoebridge and Liberal figures were pictured at a dinner with the then-Russian ambassador in 2022, and all involved said the envoy’s presence was unanticipated.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Shoebridge was pictured at a dinner with the then-Russian ambassador and Liberal figures in 2022, but he and the Liberals said they were blindsided by the envoy’s presence.”