Victorian Liberal senator David Van’s non-authorised trip to Ukraine paid for by drone maker

David Van defied official advice and flew to Ukraine last year courtesy of a defence manufacturing company that had previously received millions of dollars in grants.

David Van with the 80th Brigade in front of an Australian Bushmaster somewhere in the Donbas region during his August trip. Picture: David Van

An Australian senator who defied official government advice not to travel to war-torn Ukraine ­embarked on a frontline trip paid for by a drone company that had previously received millions of dollars in government grants.

Victorian Liberal senator David Van flew to Ukraine last year courtesy of defence manufacturing company DefendTex, and took photographs of tanks, Australian Bushmaster armoured ­vehicles, bombed-out buildings and bullet-riddled cars.

The trip raised eyebrows among his colleagues because it took place after the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade had issued a do-not-travel warning for the country.

A month after he returned to Australia from his August 2022 trip, Senator Van spruiked DefendTex and its drones in a speech to the Senate, without mentioning the company had paid for his trip.

Senator Van takes a selfie with a tank during his Ukraine sojourn last year.

He told the Senate he had travelled “not just to Kyiv for a photo-op but into the theatre of operations in Donbas’’, and that he believed Australia needed to do more to support the war effort.

“We should be sending M777 howitzers and the 155mm ammunition that’s fired from them, as well as high-technology weapons such as the DefendTex drones that we’ve sent in there, and the DroneShield air defence system – all made in Australia,’’ he said.

He also posted on his personal website a number of photographs of himself wearing a bulletproof vest in Ukraine.

In two photographs, captioned “frontline’’, he is joined by DefendTex chief executive Travis Reddy, though Senator Van does not name him.

While he was in Ukraine, it was revealed DefendTex had sold 300 of its small kamikaze D40 drones to the Ukrainian government.

The trip came three years after Senator Van and then defence ­industry minister Melissa Price announced a $2m innovation grant to DefendTex, which was acknowledged at a function ­attended by the two MPs, Mr Reddy, and the company’s staff.

Former Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price and Senator David Van announcing a $2 million grant to Defendtex CEO Travis Reddy in August 2019.

Former industry minister Christian Porter awarded the company another $3m as a ­research grant in September 2021 to develop Australia’s first 3D-printed rocket booster for space.

In April 2022, the Coalition announced a $4.3m grant to the company to manufacture drones and missiles, taking to $9.3m the total received in three years.

Senator Van declared in his register of interests that DefendTex Ltd had paid for his travel to Ukraine in August 2022.

The chairman of the Parliamentary Friends of Ukraine committee in Canberra, Senator Van told The Australian that he had been keen to travel to Ukraine to see how the drones were being used in the field, and to have discussions about further Australian support for Ukraine, which is fending off an invasion by Russia.

He said he had got to know the DefendTex team over several years, and encouraged its innovation and sovereign capacity.

“When I suggested I was looking to go, they said they could pay for the trip,’’ he said. “It worked out very well. It was a very worthwhile trip. It was an important trip to do and they funded it – I’ve been open about that.

“Having put it on my register, I think I’ve done everything I need to.’’

Senator Van said the first time he met Mr Reddy was at the ­DefendTex event with Ms Price, when she handed over the grant cheque.

Mr Reddy also said this was the first time he had met Senator Van, and he had got to know him through the senator’s keen interest in the company’s work and in defence issues.

“We stayed in touch, as I do with all members of parliament,’’ he said.

Mr Reddy said DefendTex got the opportunity to supply D155 and D40 drones to Ukraine. “We got to know the Ukrainian ambassador in Australia; Senator Van facilitated some introduction to the ambassador, which was good,’’ he said.

“Senator Van had an invitation to go to Ukraine. I wanted to go to Ukraine to see how the equipment was performing in the field.

“There was an opportunity.’’

Then newbie senator David Van makes his maiden speech in 2019. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

Mr Reddy said he was more easily able to get access to Ukrainian ministers by travelling with Senator Van.

“I make body armour so I was able to provide an escort, to escort him to Ukraine, so that’s what I did.

“He has a very keen interest in defence.

“He is trying to ensure the Australian people are supporting the liberal democracy in Ukraine.’’