‘It’s insane’: Australia denies Ukrainian aid request for equipment ‘we’re no longer using’

Liberal Party Defence and National Security Policy Chair Lincoln Parker has called the decision by the Albanese government to not donate retired helicopters to Ukraine “insane” because it is equipment “we’re no longer using”. Ukraine is pleading with the Australian government to donate its fleet of retired Taipan helicopters instead of dismantling and burying them. It was revealed on Thursday morning that Defence Minister Richard Marles was yet to respond to a request from the Ukrainians which came more than a month ago. Acting Defence Minister Pat Conroy formally rejected the request on Thursday afternoon. “This time [the Ukrainians] have asked for Taipan helicopters that we’re no longer using and, again, Prime Minister Albanese has said no,” Mr Parker told Sky News host Erin Parker. “In fact, what we’re going to do with these helicopters is bury them – and I mean literally bury them in the ground instead of giving them to Ukraine who desperately need them. “It’s insane.”