May 30, 2023
The opposition is calling for the Vladimir Putin’s private army, the Wagner group, to be listed as a terrorist organisation in Australia.
The mercenary group was at the centre of the nine-month battle for the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut and has been accused of war crimes, including executions and rape.
The French parliament has recently called on the European Union to formally label Wagner as terrorists, with reports the UK is preparing to brand the group as a terror group.
Meanwhile, the US has designated Wagner a “significant transnational criminal organisation” and placed sanctions on the group.
The opposition’s home affairs spokesman James Paterson said Australia needed to update relevant legislation to brand the group for what it was.
“There are two reasons why we list terrorist organisations in Australia. The first is the practical reasons – it makes it unlawful to associate with them as an organisation or to raise funds on their behalf or recruit people on behalf,” Senator Paterson told ABC Radio.
“But there’s also a moral component to it. This is an opportunity for Australia to state our views and stand in conjunction with our allies and say that we don’t tolerate the activities or conduct of the particular group.”
Senator Paterson said the opposition hadn’t been briefed on whether there was any indication Wagner was getting funding from Australia but said labelling it as terrorist now would prevent any future misgivings.
“It is in Australia’s national interest that Ukraine prevail. We have to do everything in our power to ensure they do,” he said.
The opposition and the Greens have also been calling on the government to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terror group.
The government does not comment on whether particular groups are being considered for listing as a terrorist organisation.
