Mike's Minute: Let's hope Henare's Ukraine trip wakes the Government up

The good news about Defence Minister Peeni Henare going to Ukraine is that he claims he is coming back to talk about more funding for weapons. He needs to. The funding we have put forward for weapons is shocking. We are an international embarrassment when it comes to that aspect of our role in the war. Australia is handing over Bushmasters by the dozen, but we like to give blankets and old helmets. Early in the piece, the main claim was we didn’t have a lot of weapons, which was never the point. We always had money and money goes to buy the weaponry needed. But we have always been reluctant to give it. I get this lot are anti-war, we are all anti-war in our own way, but surely even this Government, perhaps especially this Government, given its passion for the United Nations and international responsibility, would understand in a conflict such as this, we all have our part to play. So, if Henare can loosen the attitude, as well as the purse strings, then the trip will have been worth it. What was weird about the trip was he was our first representative. Why? As a result, he was met by an underling, when really the person you wanted to meet was Zelenskyy. Why has our Prime Minister not met Zelenskyy? Why has our Prime Minister been in Europe and on the doorstep of Ukraine and not met Zelenskyy? Last time it was logistics, as though somehow the Ardern logistics are so much more complicated than the logistics of Macron, Schultz, Draghi, Johnson, Trudeau. Or even more complicated than the leaders of Poland, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, or Lithuania. How long do you want the list to be? Oh, but they are European countries. Yes, they are. But Australian isn't and Albanese has been there. In fact, he went there when he was in Europe at the same time Ardern was. So, once again, what is so complicated about the Ardern logistics? It is imperative, as it has been from day one, to be on the right side of history. We barely are and our contribution is timid, small, and reluctant. Hopefully what Henare saw changes a few minds and adjusts a few attitudes.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.