As Wikileaks founder Julian Assange flew home to Australia, many current Australian politicians celebrated his newfound freedom.
Mr. Assange, who founded Wikileaks in 2006, gained international attention in 2010 for publishing a series of leaks from U.S. intelligence, leading to his subsequent legal battles and imprisonment.
On June 26, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese gave an emotional speech celebrating Mr. Assange’s newfound freedom.
“Julian Assange is on his way home to Australia,” he said.
“A short time ago a United States court in Saipan accepted a plea agreement between Mr. Assange and the United States Department of Justice.”
Acknowledging differing views on Mr. Assange, Mr. Albanese said the former editor’s case had dragged on for too long.
“I’ve said repeatedly that there was nothing to be gained by his continued incarceration and I am pleased that he is on his way to Australia to reunite with his family here,” he said.
Mr. Albanese credited his government’s persistent efforts for his release.
Mr. Assange was flown home with U.S. ambassador and former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd and UK High Commissioner Stephen Smith.
“This work has been complex and it has been considered, this is what standing up for Australians around the world looks like,” Mr. Albanese said.
“The saga has been brought to an end.”
Labor MP Josh Wilson told parliament on Wednesday that Mr. Assange’s freedom showed that “activism matters.”
“I am glad to have shared the work that fought for Julian’s freedom,” he said.
Independent MP Andrew Wilkie was perhaps more ambitious, saying millions of people around the world, and especially Australians, were thrilled by the news that Mr. Assange was a free man.
“At the end of the day, Julian Assange is a Walkley award-winning Australian journalist who did his job,” Mr. Wilkie said.
Liberal MP Bridget Archer was also supportive of Mr. Assange’s release.
“While this is a terrific outcome for Julian Assange, we must not lose sight of the fact that all of the issues that we have been raising for some time about what this means for democracy and press freedom hasn’t gone away,” she said.
“My encouragement would be to all of these people that have supported Julian to this point, continue to get behind the stories.
“To ensure that our democracy is not eroded by this kind of overreach we have seen in relation to Julian Assange.”
Similar sentiments were echoed by Greens MP David Shoebridge, who said it was important to remember that while Mr. Assange had freedom, others such as David McBride were currently imprisoned for having leaked information on wars.
Opposition to Julian Assange’s Release
However, not everyone welcomed Mr. Assange’s release.Former U.S. vice president Mike Pence heavily criticised the move, arguing that Mr. Assange put lives at risk by leaking sensitive information.
“Julian Assange endangered the lives of our troops in a time of war and should have been prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” he said on X.
“The Biden administration’s plea deal with Assange is a miscarriage of justice and dishonours the service and sacrifice of the men and women of our armed forces and their families.
“There should be no plea deals to avoid prison for anyone that endangers the security of our military or the national security of the United States. Ever.”
Former Australian foreign minister Alexander Downer was equally scathing, saying the fact he was Australian did not mean he was a “good bloke.”
He pointed out that most governments would be bothered by having national security information stolen and published, suggesting that most Australians probably did not have much sympathy for Mr. Assange.
Assange Barred from Re-entering US Without Permission
The U.S. Embassy in Canberra issued a statement on Mr. Assange’s release, revealing he would not be allowed to re-enter the U.S. without permission.“At today’s proceeding, Assange admitted to his role in the conspiracy to violate the Espionage Act and received a court imposed, 62-month time-served sentence, reflecting the time he served in UK prison as a result of the US charges,” the embassy said.
“Following the imposition of sentence, he will depart the United States for his native Australia.
“Pursuant to the plea agreement, Assange is prohibited from returning to the United States without permission.”
