Open letter to the Honourable Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Parliament of Australia.
We the undersigned urge you to send more Bushmasters to Ukraine immediately.

Since the Russian invasion on the 24th of February 2022, the war in Ukraine has been going on for 10 months. The United Nations has verified a total of 6,826 civilian deaths, 428 of these were children. 10,769 people have been reported injured, though the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights states that the real numbers could well be higher.

Almost 8 million Ukrainian refugees have left everything they have, or had, as in many cases everything they had has been destroyed or looted by the invading Russian forces, as they try to find new lives for themselves as refugees in foreign countries.

With a further 7 million internally displaced inside their own country, fleeing from Russian invaders, trying to find someplace for shelter, warmth, food and water. 

Australia so far has committed 90 Bushmasters, which have already seen action, that have been used extensively and to great effect by the Ukrainian armed forces. Ferrying their troops rapidly to the frontlines, outmanoeuvring the Russian forces and retaking large swathes of land, towns and villages.

From what I can see we currently have 1,193 Bushmasters, and seeing how Australia is currently at peace, I don’t think we need to keep 1,000 of those Bushmasters here when they could be saving lives in Ukraine.
For example if we sent 1,000 units to Ukraine, that means 10,000 troops being able to move to and from the frontlines safely, moving from one region of the country to another at lightening speed, making it almost impossible to know where they would strike.

Offense actions isn’t the main thing or maybe even the most important that they could be used for, as this unprovoked and illegal war drags on into 2023, the Russians will no doubt terrorise and destroy more cities. To have these vehicles, one driver in each could pick up 9 civilians with a backpack of their clothing, food and water, then evacuate them to safety, turn around and come back, continuing this till all the occupants are relocated, only stopping to change drivers. As the vehicles can sustain themselves for 3 days.

While I understand sending 1,000 units might not be feasible, as we may need a certain amount of these for our own country’s security needs.

I do know however that we can afford to send more than the 90 we already have, we Must do more, we are Australians, we don’t sit back and watch while evil kills the good, rapes the women and children. 

We have a unique chance to fight alongside our Ukrainian allies, by helping to protect them from some of the pain, the hardships, and deaths, can you in all good conscience deny them this protection? 

We could send another 100 units as a sign of our ongoing commitment and solidarity with a country that is fighting to retain its independence, it’s very life, not just their way of life, it’s life and life of it’s people, there should be no doubt in anyone’s mind by now what the Russians are doing. 

I also know that Thales contract is up and looking to layoff around 29 highly trained staff, there’s also talk of making a new fleet of Bushmasters, this would be an ideal time to send as many Bushmasters as we can, a win win, Ukraine gets the support it so greatly deserves and needs, while Australians get to keep their jobs, and our country gets new improved defence vehicles. 

I have opened this for global signatures, to get as much far reaching support as possible, to show the Australian government that people are watching what they and the Australian people are contributing.
I am proud of what we have done so far, but it is only a drop in the ocean as to what is needed.

I truely believe that the more of these awesome examples of Aussie ingenuity that get over to Ukraine, the faster this war will end and with fewer Ukrainian lives lost. 

I ask everyone to sign this petition to bring the importance of its urgency to the attention of the Australian Government. 

Thank you

Slava Ukraine!!