Sarah Ferguson presents Australia's premier daily current affairs program, delivering agenda-setting public affairs journalism and interviews that hold the powerful to account. Plus political analysis from Laura Tingle.
STEVE CANNANE, REPORTER: Julian Assange ’s return home was a long time coming. Those close to him wondered if he would ever make it out of prison.STELLA ASSANGE, JULIAN ASSANGE’S WIFE: It’s hard to describe. We’ve been waiting for this for so long.
BARRY POLLACK, US ATTORNEY FOR JULIAN ASSANGE: None of us, when we started this case, thought it was going to end in a courthouse in the Pacific. STEVE CANNANE: The department listened but didn't act but in 2022 another election result helped change the game.STEVE CANNANE: Just over a month after he was elected Anthony Albanese raised Assange’s case with President Biden in Madrid.ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: I know it's frustrating. I share the frustration. I can't do more than make very clear what my position is, and the US administration is certainly very aware of what the Australian Government's position is.
JEN ROBINSON: I then flew to Washington to meet with Kevin Rudd, our ambassador and my US co-counsel, Barry Pollack, where we briefed Ambassador Rudd about the case and talked about what this was going to take. STEVE CANNANE: In February Julian Assange sought leave to appeal to the High Court in London. It was seen as his last roll of the dice inside the UK legal system to avoid extradition.
STEVE CANNANE: In the leadup to the hearings Jen Robinson says she rang Australian Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and alerted him about the weaknesses in the US case. The second was that Julian was very firm that he did not want to come to the United States for fear that if he did, he would be detained on some other charges.
JEN ROBINSON: I think it's really important to highlight for people what's not in the plea deal and that statement of facts and why it's important.
Julian Assange Wikileaks Jennifer Robinson Usa Barry Pollack Freedom Of Speech Free Speech Assange Freedom Deal
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Sarah Ferguson: Duchess of York to visit Perth as headliner of new writers festival7NEWS brings you the latest local news from Australia and around the world. Stay up to date with all of the breaking sport, politics, entertainment, finance, weather and business headlines. Today's news, live updates & all the latest breaking stories from 7NEWS.
Read more »
Julian Assange freed LIVE updates: WikiLeaks founder returns to Australia for first time in 14 yearsFollow today’s coverage on WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange with our live blog.
Read more »
Julian Assange freed LIVE updates: WikiLeaks founder returns to Australia for first time in 14 yearsFollow today’s coverage on WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange with our live blog.
Read more »
Julian Assange freed LIVE updates: WikiLeaks founder returns to Australia for first time in 14 yearsFollow today’s coverage on WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange with our live blog.
Read more »
Julian Assange to be freed after pleading guilty to US espionage chargeAfter a decades-long ordeal Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has been released from prison in the United Kingdom and is set to return to Australia.
Read more »
Julian Assange freed after pleading guilty to one espionage charge at a hearing in SaipanIn Saipan, Julian Assange's long-running legal battle has come to a close as he pleaded guilty and walked out of the courtroom as a convicted felon but free man.
Read more »