Ukrainians in Australia condemn pro-Russian action by Port Hedland Councillor

The Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO) condemns Town of Port Hedland Councillor Adrian McRae for his sickening support of Vladimir Putin and calls on the Town’s council to sanction him for his behaviour.

“Adrian McRae has shown a shocking lack of judgment by offering his support for Putin’s recent sham election. It is farcical to stand in a local council election and then not be around for your swearing-in because you’re over in Russia talking about their ‘transparent’ election processes and congratulating the dictator Putin on his ‘comprehensive’ victory,” stated Stefan Romaniw, the UWC First Vice President and Co-Chair of the AFUO.

“Putin’s Russia is no democracy. Opposition figures are murdered, jailed, forced abroad or barred from running; the independent media has been quashed; voter fraud, manipulation and intimidation are standard practices,” AFUO representatives say.

“We’re lucky in Australia to have a participatory democracy which runs free and fair elections at local, state and federal levels year in, year out. Cr McRae has benefited directly from those processes, but seems not to grasp that the same cannot be said of Russia,” added Stefan Romaniw.

McRae’s views do not align with the community he represents, making him unworthy of office. AFUO urges the official to resign and the Port Hedland authorities to sanction him.