Australia’s participation in today’s global “wars” is essential, just as Australia’s own battle against household and children’s poverty onshore is inevitable
Our beloved country, positioned graciously in the Southern Hemisphere as the world’s largest island continent, is by no stretch of the imagination immune from the numerous volatilities presently ravaging lives and countries in the Northern Hemisphere.
Our island paradise is far away from Gaza in the Middle East—12,263 kilometers—and 12,975 kilometers from Ukraine, two hotspots of conflict for many months and years now. The human cost is staggering, with cosmic proportions and heart-wrenching data on casualties, ironically occurring in what was supposed to be a peaceful post-World War II era—the war thought to end all wars.
As a peace-loving democracy and a willing signatory to numerous international conventions fostering and protecting global peace and liberty, Australia unequivocally supports every country’s autonomy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. Therefore, our national leaders, in bipartisan goodwill, acted swiftly in cooperation with many other democracies to hold Russia accountable for its alleged illegal and immoral full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
There are always two sides to any conflict. As citizens of the free world, we have the luxury to consider both sides without prejudice. President Vladimir Putin of Russia claims that Russia has existed for many centuries and contrasts this with Eastern Europe’s formation. He argues that Ukraine has always been part of Russia geographically and linguistically. Therefore, he claims that Russia’s actions in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, constitute a strategic military operation and are in no way an act of war, despite the condemnation from the West.
In stark contrast, Australia’s objective in the Ukraine conflict, along with 28 other countries, is to provide weapons and financial assistance to empower Ukraine to end this war on its own terms. In December 2022, US President Joe Biden pledged an additional $45 billion in support for Ukraine. At that time, this was the fourth US aid package, bringing total US funding for Ukraine since February to nearly $100 billion.
The Albanese Government continues its steadfast support for Ukraine, recently announcing Australia’s largest single military assistance package, worth nearly $250 million. This brings Australia’s military assistance to Ukraine to more than $1.1 billion since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, and overall assistance to over $1.3 billion.
Monitoring by U.S. defense officials has estimated that Russia has probably spent up to $211 billion on equipping, deploying, and maintaining military operations in Ukraine, aggravated by losses exceeding $10 billion in canceled or postponed arms sales. In terms of human cost, the U.S. claims Russia has lost 600,000 lives—an alarming and phenomenal loss. However, the independent Russian media outlet Mediazona reports that 71,000 Russian soldiers have been identified and confirmed killed in Ukraine, not including civilian lives lost near the border communities. Regardless, the figures are frightening in any language.
Whatever the actual numbers, it is claimed that Russia has sought assistance from its allies, such as the North Korean dictator, with thousands of North Korean military personnel reportedly training in Russia. On the Ukrainian front, the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission has recorded 29,330 civilian casualties in Ukraine, comprising 10,191 killed and 19,139 injured since Russia’s invasion on February 24, 2022.
This wider involvement of countries on both sides has led some commentators to suggest an imminent world war. A few claim we are already in a global war with heavy geopolitical participation on both sides.
The NGO Emergency Action Alliance reminds us of the economic disruptions globally, with Australia being indirectly impacted by the Ukraine/Russia conflict. Australia’s agricultural industry has experienced mixed effects due to the war. Both Russia and Ukraine have been major powerhouses in agriculture, with a combined share of 20-30% of the world’s exports of several key commodities.
As a prime exporter of grains, Australia has seen increased demand for its agricultural products, particularly wheat, as Ukraine’s agricultural production has declined. This surge in demand has benefited Australian farmers, who have experienced higher prices and improved profitability. By late 2022, rural exports from Australia were up nearly 47% due to the war.
The global energy crisis is driving European countries to reduce their reliance on Russian oil and gas, creating opportunities for Australia. The United States is likely to support this shift, opening doors for Australian involvement. Regardless of the future political landscape in Russia, long-term global sanctions are expected to persist. Companies should evaluate their actions regarding international and Australian sanctions and consider their long-term presence and engagement in Russia. This is a critical moment for companies with Russian exposure to review and manage associated risks effectively.
About 1,950 kilometers to the south of Ukraine in the Middle East is a different type of volatility: the age-old Israeli-Palestinian rivalry. This conflict has re-erupted to ruthless heights following the invasion of Israel’s sovereignty by the militant group Hamas and its associates.
Many global citizens remain oblivious to the reasons behind the premeditated bombings and eventual invasion of Israel by Hamas. By understanding the history of Palestine and the events that led to the current situation, we can better appreciate the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and work toward a future marked by peace, justice, and reconciliation for all parties involved.
As far back as 1993, Israeli and Palestinian leaders met secretly in Oslo, Norway, and reached agreements signed in 1993 (at the White House) and 1995 (in Taba, Egypt), known as the Oslo Accords. The Palestine Liberation Organization formally recognized Israel’s right to exist while Israel recognized the PLO as the representative of the Palestinian people.
The Oslo Accords viewed peace between Israel and the Palestinians as a process to be implemented in incremental steps. Over the years, however, shifting demands coupled with changes in leadership on both sides have thwarted any mutual resolution. Sadly, the failure of the two sides to reach a final arrangement has led to the stalemate that exists today.
Australia has taken a stand in the volatile Israeli-Palestinian rivalry, as echoed by Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong in a press conference in Jerusalem earlier this year. She emphatically stated, “Australia is a friend of Israel’s. We are also a friend of the Palestinian people.” During her trip to the Middle East, Senator Wong announced that Australia commits $21.5 million in humanitarian support to Palestinians in Gaza and abroad.
The Brown University Watson Institute reports that the United States has spent $22.76 billion in support of Israel’s actions in Gaza and operations against the Houthis in Yemen.
In reflecting on the human costs of war, it is crucial to recognize the staggering toll of lives lost and the impact on communities. It goes without saying that the military spending of trillions of dollars by global leaders—whether democratic or dictatorial—ironically claims these expenditures are for the sake of achieving peace while neglecting the consequences of their actions.
Looking back over the past 60 years of recorded history, we may have regressed to a new low in decency as a global community, creating and fostering wars while diverting trillions to finance them. No generation will forget the USA and allies’ involvement in the Vietnam War. Although many Americans chose not to speak of this conflict, it was described by diplomat-turned-academic George Kennan as “the most disastrous undertaking” in 200 years of U.S. history.
“Disastrous” is an understatement; upon the U.S. withdrawal in March 1973, it was estimated that 58,132 Americans died in Vietnam, with more than 150,000 wounded and 21,000 permanently disabled. Over three million Americans served in the Vietnam War, and an estimated 100,000 fled the United States to avoid conscription, with approximately 50,000 deserters. The Veterans Administration estimates that 830,000 Vietnam veterans suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, with 480,000 considered disabled. The estimated cost of the Vietnam War during the Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon administrations was $176 billion.
However, a wave of justifications, criticisms, and retributions followed. Some argued that Vietnam was a nationalist conflict in which Washington had no business intervening. Australia sent over 60,000 personnel to Vietnam, with 523 dying as a result of the war and nearly 2,400 wounded, incurring a military cost of $220 million and millions more in care for veterans.
Just 28 years later, on September 18, 2001, the Bush administration enacted sweeping measures to combat terrorism, including invading Afghanistan. Twenty years later, U.S. participation in the Afghanistan war became the longest in U.S. history. Since invading Afghanistan in 2001, the United States has spent $2.313 trillion on the war, including operations in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. After the Afghanistan War, the U.S. government is obligated to provide lifetime care for veterans of this conflict, with a total of 243,000 deaths among military, allied workers, and civilians.
Australia spent $10 billion during the war and $213 million post-2021, resulting in 41 Australian deaths. Both sides of any conflict tenaciously stand by their justifications for engaging in war. However, the true human and monetary costs cannot be precisely determined, for it is war.
Wouldn’t the immense sums poured into wars make us envious of those fighting against poverty daily? According to the Reserve Bank of Australia, high inflation and interest rates continue to pressure household budgets. Real disposable incomes—after tax and interest payments and adjusted for inflation—have declined sharply since the start of 2022 on a per-capita basis. More people than usual are seeking support from community organizations like food banks, often for the first time, including dual-income households and mortgagors.
The Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research has updated the poverty line for Australia to the March quarter of 2024. Inclusive of housing costs, the poverty line is $1,145.61 per week for a family of two adults (one working) and two dependent children. This is an increase of $4.78 from the previous quarter (December 2023).
The OECD – Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Poverty has found that poverty exists even in wealthy countries like Australia. A 2022 study indicated that 3.3 million people in Australia live below the poverty line, including 761,000 children. Many Australians face significant disadvantages and challenges in their daily lives. A major driver of poverty and homelessness in Australia is the rising cost of housing, making it increasingly difficult for families to make ends meet.
In 2024, the median weekly rent in Australia is $627, an increase of 8.5% from the previous year. For families living under the poverty line, affording a safe home can be out of reach, forcing many to choose between paying rent or buying food. Two million Australian households have experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months, leading to reduced food intake, skipped meals, or consumption of lower quality or unhealthy food. Sixty percent of households experiencing food insecurity go an entire day without eating at least once a week.
For the 761,000 children living in poverty in Australia, the detrimental effects on their education, health, and future outcomes are profound. By age 15, children growing up in poverty may be up to three years behind in school compared to their peers.
We are not advocating a pacifist doctrine entirely, as reasonable wars for global peace to end tyrannical regimes and genocide may be justified. However, it is crucial to recognize that the trillions of dollars spent on wars, especially those that have failed to yield positive outcomes like Vietnam and Afghanistan, have obliterated hundreds of thousands of precious lives.
Moreover, the casualties of these wars include their respective pre-war homeless and poverty-stricken citizens in these wealthy countries, now burdened with war debt that further hampers efforts to combat poverty at home. This is the dilemma of our age, and we must ask ourselves: when will a generation rise up and demand enough of war, and advocate for new “Oslo Accords” between Palestine and Israel, or a new treaty regarding the Russian-Ukrainian border?
This may not be a simplistic view; it could ensure a flow of vital resources into alleviating the suffering of their impoverished citizens. Which generation across these volatile regions will rise up and demand that enough is enough when it comes to war?
