Kennedy MP Bob Katter has stuck by his call for young Australians to be armed and trained to fight under a new national defence initiative.
Speaking on Today, Mr Katter said without mass training of citizens, Ukraine would be "subjugated and under the control of Russia".
Ukraine re-introduced conscription in 2014 following Russia's initial invasion, but prior to the 2022 invasion, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had announced a plan to end it by 2024.
READ MORE: Putin issues energy threat to West to saving tumbling currency
"Why haven't the Russians been able to conquer them?" Mr Katter said.
"Because in all of those northern, European countries, there is a proliferation of firearms, and many of those countries have compulsory military training."
He listed Israel as another example, citing its military victories against larger neighbours.
"When you take on that little country, you're taking on a standing army of five million people," he said.
READ MORE: Killer whale calf named in honour of Shane Warne
Mr Katter also said that national service would be good for people.
"It gives you self respect, it gives you confidence, it fills you with a sense of responsibility," he said.
He said young Australians would feel better knowing they could help defend the country.
"A missile fortress wall, my friend, and behind that, a guerrilla army of five million people," he said.
However, Labor president and former federal treasurer Wayne Swan argued against the notion.
"We've got world-leading gun control measures in this country," he said.
"If he wants to mount an argument about defending out country, it's not about arming our kids.
"It's about making ourselves stronger across the board, including investing in defence."
from 9News https://ift.tt/XcUbS31
via IFTTT
Comments
Post a Comment