Anthony Albanese calls for Russian diplomats to be expelled over ‘sickening abuses’ in Ukraine

Anthony Albanese has called on the Australian government to expel Russian diplomats, declaring that the "sickening abuses being carried out by Russian forces" in Ukraine must trigger immediate consequences.

In a pre-election attempt to get on the front foot on national security, the Labor leader said the prime minister, Scott Morrison, must act in lockstep with European partners by ordering a number of Russian diplomats and staff to leave.

Under the model suggested by Albanese, the Russian ambassador to Australia, Alexey Pavlovsky, would probably be able to remain in place, but some of his subordinates would be declared "persona non grata", forcing them to depart the country.

It is possible Albanese's call for action pre-empts an imminent government decision.

Government sources told Guardian Australia on Wednesday that expulsions of diplomats had "always been on the table" and the latest reports of atrocities by Russian forces would be taken into account.

A number of European countries have now acted in response to the murder of civilians in the town of Bucha, north of Kyiv, which the German government has described as war crimes.

Since Monday, 206 Russian diplomats and embassy staff have been told they are no longer welcome to stay by governments in Italy, France, Germany and elsewhere.

Albanese called on the Morrison government to "follow suit".

"It is hard to conceive how the decision can be made to allow these individuals to stay, given the sickening abuses being carried out by Russian forces," Albanese said in a statement late on Wednesday.

"The mass killing of innocent civilians and the use of rape as a weapon of war can only be described as war crimes."

Albanese said those responsible must be held to account "and in the first instance there must be immediate diplomatic consequences".

He said Labor also supported "all efforts to ensure these crimes are thoroughly investigated and prosecuted through the international criminal court process, including the provision of Australian experts to assist the investigation".

Payne was in Brussels to attend meeting with Nato foreign ministers on Wednesday. Prior to leaving Australia, Payne said the talks would help coordinate "the global response to Russia's unlawful, egregious and unprovoked actions".

To date, the Australian government has stopped short of expelling Russian diplomats in order to keep open direct lines of communication.

But in its attempts to ratchet up the costs on Russia for the invasion of Ukraine, Australia has typically acted in line with the US and Europe.

The raft of diplomatic expulsions in Europe suggest that a similar action could soon be considered by Australia.

Russia has denied any accusations related to the murder of civilians and described the expulsions from European countries as "a blow to bilateral relations", warning such moves would trigger "retaliatory measures".

The Coalition is eager to make national security a major theme in its pitch to voters, with Morrison arguing the world faces "uncertain times" and it is not a time for "weakness".

Morrison is expected to see the governor general within days to call an election for either 14 or 21 May.

Over the past week, he has labelled the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, "the war criminal of Moscow" and has said he is "appalled by reports of atrocities against Ukrainian civilians by Russian troops in Bucha and other towns".

Morrison also condemned Russia in a joint statement with the US president, Joe Biden, and the British prime minister, Boris Johnson, updating progress on Aukus.

"In light of Russia's unprovoked, unjustified, and unlawful invasion of Ukraine, we reiterated our unwavering commitment to an international system that respects human rights, the rule of law, and the peaceful resolution of disputes free from coercion," the three leaders said in Wednesday's statement.

They also announced that Australia, the US and the UK would collaborate on hypersonic missile technologies under the Aukus banner. Labor has given the Aukus partnership bipartisan support.