No, we cannot afford to be generous with Ukraine in money or equipment. The sending of military equipment from our pathetically small supply is absurd. If we were to be attacked ourselves, we would fold within hours.

" …. the largest donor to Ukraine outside of the European-based NATO alliance of which we are not a part. It's a country over 10,000 kilometres away".

Who are we kidding? How far out of touch with reality is our political class? A country that can't defend itself big noting itself with a country that means nothing to Australia.

"Australian aid seems incongruous when Ukraine is surrounded by some of the richest and largest economies in the world - Germany, France, and nearby United Kingdom".

Good on you Scott Prasser. No other outside contributor to OLO makes the same sense and tells the truth the way you do.

I like your suggestion that fleeing Ukrainians, as Europeans, would be better off staying in Europe rather than coming 13,000 kilometres to a country that they have nothing in common with, and one which has already taken in many more people for its population than others - due to out politicians slavering for global recognition rather than looking after Australia.

Well, I believe we can with stuff we make here! And as we do build in economies of scale and consequent cost reduction to our own defense industries. I note your remarks regarding the blatant stupidity of a nuclear powered Germany in shutting done much of that and as they did so making themselves vastly dependent on Russian gas and oil! Also note the news that Sydney is now powering some of it's homes with wastewater biomethane and will increase production of the same as it's able?

Every Australian domicile produces enough organic waste to power their homes 24/7 with biomethane. As does Germany and the rest of Europe. I've been banging on about this for years! Thank heavens someone is finally listening!

We invented the superior two tank system and ought be over there selling Australian mass produced systems as fast as we can build them.

Aside from that, we need to do much more recycling! And only economic if the energy is very low cost!

For mine that means we need nuclear power as SMRs MSRs thorium which can also be re-tasked with burning the world's stockpiles of nuclear waste, which in the technology is just mostly unspent fuel and could power this nation for thousands of years with fuel other folks pay us to take from them for millions PA!
Alan B.

It matters not how far away it is! It's still just one planet and the longer this war continues, the worst the outcome for the environment and the future of mankind! Of course we should resettle many Ukrainians here and would if we could but house them!

And as difficult as, when we can't even put rooves over our own! Perhaps we could sponsor some and put them up in our own homes where we have spare room(s)?

Of interest is, if coal and gas-fired power were subject to the same rouge emissions requirements as nuclear, few could continue!

Why is it so hard for politicians to grasp, the sooner we transition to safe clean, and cheaper than coal, nuclear (MSR thorium) the better off we, our economy and the environment/the climate/our one planet will be!
Alan B.

One notes that in relation to Russian gas, sand batteries offer and alternative heat source with molten mediums such as silica or salt allowing stored heat as high as 1,000c to be stored and reused in
place of gas in all manner of industry!

Sand batteries are just steel silos with steel, with tons of builder's and pipes in them to carry heat in and out. And can vary in size to suit whatever application is envisaged. Only require a local steel industry to manufacture as many as we could use.

One imagines many outback industries could start up using copious outback heat. And be connected to the rest of Oz via very rapid rail.

Rapid rail to be economic needs clean, cheap energy and I've already indicated the best source of that requirement, i.e., MSR thorium!

All I've suggested could be financed by a new peoples' bank, i.e., a post office bank that allows many small private operators, a profitable look in?
Alan B.

Australian military aid to Ukraine is just prolonging the agony of the Ukrainian people. Instead of sending tanks and ammunition, which only results in more death and destruction, Australia should instead be encouraging its close ally and dominant member of NATO, the US, to sit down with Ukraine and Russia and to negotiate a peace settlement. As it is, Australia is helping prop up the US's proxy war against Russia, which is something we have no right to be doing.

Our generous response to Ukrainian refugees wouldn't be open for criticism, if only we treated other refugees with the same degree of generosity, which of course we don't. We open our arms to refugees with white skins and Christian heritage and put up the barricades to all others. Our aid to Ukraine is discriminatory and misguided and the new Labor government needs to bring it to an end. Australian aid should be focused on our own region where it can actually make a difference.

Stupid article! Of course Australia can afford it!
Firstly we're a rich country.
Secondly, demonstrating our willingness to help is the best deterrent to Chinese aggression we have. If anything, we should be doing a lot more.