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AAP
AAP
Politics
Dominic Giannini

Ex-defence minister pleads not to abandon Ukraine

More needs to be done to help Ukraine defeat Russia's invasion, Liberal senator Linda Reynolds says. (Thomas Parrish/AAP PHOTOS)

Australia must continue to support Ukraine and ensure Russia is not appeased as the world enters a more precarious period, a former defence minister says. 

Liberal senator Linda Reynolds used her valedictory speech to warn more was needed to be done to help Ukraine defeat Russia's invasion.

Europe is scrambling to respond to concerns faltering US support for Kyiv will give Russia the upper hand as the White House and the Kremlin negotiate a peace deal.

Liberal senator Linda Reynolds
"Appeasement of Russia will not work," senator Linda Reynolds said in her valedictory speech. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

"Their war is our war," Senator Reynolds told the chamber.

"I know there's a lot of discussions going on globally at the moment but ... appeasement of Russia will not work."

"The United States appeased Russia 10 years ago and gave them Crimea - 'they won't take anything more', until they did."

Alongside Russia, Senator Reynolds also warned of China, North Korea and Iran forming a four-way "axis of dictatorship and authoritarianism" that targeted democracy.

"This axis is rapidly expanding its political and military spheres of influence, all of these regimes have nuclear capabilities," she said.

"They exert brutal control over their domestic over their citizens, they have no regard for human life and they have a shared hatred of democratic values."

These nations were pushing the boundaries with China having "a vice-like grip on the South China Sea" and advanced in preparations to cross the Taiwan Strait.

 North Korea continued to advance its nuclear and long-range strike power, she said.

"They're providing ballistic missiles to Russia and they are gazing oh so longingly over the DMZ," she said.

Senator Reynolds also warned of China "quietly and persistently manipulating critical minerals and rare earth commodity markets" to stockpile and monopolise processing.

The West Australian senator faced a period of intense scrutiny after Brittany Higgins went public with allegations in 2021 that she was raped by fellow staffer Bruce Lehrmann inside the minister's office in 2019.

WA senator Linda Reynolds outside court in Perth
Senator Linda Reynolds faced intense scrutiny after Brittany Higgins' allegations were made public. (Richard Wainwright/AAP PHOTOS)

A Federal Court judge found Ms Higgins was, on the balance of probabilities, raped by Lehrmann in the ministerial suite.

Lehrmann, who has maintained his innocence, is appealing the verdict.

Separately, Senator Reynolds launched defamation action against Ms Higgins over social media posts the ex-minister claims damaged her reputation.

That case remains before the courts.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028

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