Key events
Australia announces $100m in new support for Ukraine
Tom McIlroy
The federal government has announced another $100m in support for Ukraine as it continues its fight against Russia’s invasion.
Australia’s Ambassador to Nato, Angus Campbell, represented Australia at the Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting in Brussels overnight, announcing plans to bring Australia’s overall support for Ukraine to over $1.8bn.
The new contribution will come in the form of two $50m payments to the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List, of which Australia is a major backer.
It will help secure the military equipment and capabilities the country needs to defend itself, including air defence capabilities and munitions, the government said.
The defence minister, Richard Marles, said:
double quotation mark What happens in Ukraine matters here in the Indo-Pacific, which is why it is so important for Australia to stay the course and continue to stand with Ukraine until they find peace on their terms.
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Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it’ll be Nick Visser with the main action.
Jim Chalmers has defended the government’s changes to its controversial capital gains tax reforms and rejected claims it amounted to a backflip forced by business interests. More follows soon.
The federal government announced last night that it will give another $100m in support for Ukraine as it continues its fight against Russia’s invasion. More coming up.
And AFL great Tony Modra is in hospital after a serious truck crash near Adelaide. More on that soon too.
