Complex sentence: Shortly after the Australian Government announced that Russell would be returning to Canberra from Washington, Russell, still in Washington, made comments criticising the Opposition, which led to Shadow Foreign Minister Alexander Downer to denounce his actions and call for him to step down immediately.
Split into simpler sentences: Shortly after the Australian Government announced that Russell would be returning to Australia, Russell made comments criticising the Opposition. This led Shadow Foreign Minister Alexander Downer to denounce his actions and call for him to step down immediately.