STOP FUELLING RUSSIA'S WAR

The Sanctions Loophole

Although Australia bans direct imports of Russian oil, a major loophole allows Russian crude to reach Australian consumers through the back door:

1. Russian crude is exported to refineries in countries such as India and China
2. It’s mixed and processed, becoming “substantially transformed"
3. The refined fuel is legally imported to Australia
4. Meanwhile, the Kremlin collects tax revenue from the original crude sale

Find out more in our fact sheet.

No more laundering Russian blood oil. Close the loophole.

The Numbers Don't Lie

Since February 2022, Russia has earned over AUD $1.45 trillion in revenue from fossil fuel exports - a major contributor to the Kremlin’s budget.

Australia has played a role in this. Since February 2023, Australia has imported an estimated AUD 3.5 billion worth of Russian crude, as a component in refined petroleum products from Indian refineries - sending around AUD $1.9 billion in tax revenue to the Kremlin.

That’s more than we've provided to Ukraine in aid.

And there’s no sign of this slowing down. In the third year of the invasion, Australia as a country was the single largest buyer of oil products from refineries using Russian crude.

How much more are we willing to send Putin to fuel his war?

Why It Matters

Every day that Australian petrol dollars flow to the Kremlin, our values are compromised. By enabling Russia to launder its crude oil, we help to:

• Fuel the Russian war machine
• Prop up Russia’s economy
• Undermine global sanctions

This financial pipeline prolongs the suffering, death and destruction in Ukraine.

TThe European Union has announced it will be introducing an import ban on refined petroleum products made from Russian crude in third countries such as India, China, Singapore and Turkey.

In the United States, President Donald Trump has threatened to impose 100% secondary tariffs on any country buying Russian exports, including oil.

How many more days will we wait to act?