Christine Milne calls for revoking of Vladimir Putin’s Brisbane G20 invitation

Christine Milne is calling for Vladimir Putin’s invitation to the Brisbane G20 leaders’ summit in to be revoked.

A member of the Australian Ukrainian community raises a placard carrying picture of the Russian President Vladimir Putin during a protest rally in Sydney.

GREENS leader Christine Milne is calling for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invitation to the G20 leaders’ summit in Brisbane in November to be revoked.

Senator Milne also today backed the way Tony Abbott has handled the aftermath of the MH17 tragedy which cut short the lives of 28 Australians and eight permanent residents.

Mr Abbott has left open the prospect of banning Mr Putin from the G20 and signalled his attendance at the summit could be contingent on the level of cooperation Australia receives from Russia to secure an independent international investigation.

Mr Abbott said today “that’s what decency and that’s what humanity demands’’.

But speaking on Sky News’ Australian Agenda, Senator Milne called for Mr Putin to be banned from the world’s premier economic event which is being hosted in Brisbane in mid-November.

“I said at the time the Russians went into Crimea that we should have said then we no longer want Putin at the G20,’’ Senator Milne said.

Mr Putin was excluded by international leaders from the smaller G8 summit after Moscow annexed Crimea.

“I certainly back what the Prime Minister is doing taking a strong stand going through the (United Nations) Security Council, demanding there be the independent inquiry and full access to the site,’’ Senator Milne said.

“But my view is we should have taken a stronger stand til now and I would certainly back a move to say ‘no he (Mr Putin) shouldn’t be coming to the G20.’’

Asked whether the Greens would push for economic sanctions against Russia, she said “We will have a look at what is on the table around the world but … we could take a stand on the G20 and should take a stand on the G20, that is within our power to do.’’

Mr Abbott has said Australia would be reluctant to act unilaterally but is a self-respecting country that needs to ensure visitors have shown good will and done the right thing by Australia.

Asked today whether Mr Putin would be on the guest list for the G20, Mr Abbott said it was time for Russia to fully cooperation with an investigation.

“It’s not too late for changes of heart and we know that in other incidents where jetliners have been brought down by personnel associated with particular countries that once what’s happened has been understood there’ve apologies, there’s been compensation, there’s been genuine, genuine remorse and regret. Let’s hope that’s what we see,’’ he told the ABC’s Insiders program.

“That’s what decency and that’s what humanity demands,’’ Mr Abbott said.

“There are excuses, there is blame shifting, there is hand washing going on and that’s not acceptable. It’s simply not acceptable.’’