David Shoebridge: Australian Green Party senator ahead of Julian Assange's return to the country

There's hope WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will be back in Australia by the week's end.

Wikileaks says the 52-year-old has left a UK prison, after reaching a deal with US authorities.

The BBC is reporting Assange was likely to plead guilty to a charge of conspiracy to obtain and disclose US national defence information, in a deal giving him freedom.

Australian Greens Senator, David Shoebridge, says people across the country's political spectrum have been demanding his release.

"We want him to be dipping his feet in the sand of an Australian beach before the week is out."

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Wiki Leaks founded. Julian Assange is currently in the air
on a plane on the way to the island of
Saipan after being freed from UK prison. He's agreed to
a plea deal with the US. He's going to plead
guilty to one charge of conspiring to obtain and disclose
classified US national defense documents, so he'll appear in court
in Saipan and then he's going to walk free. New
South Wales Green Senator David Schubrit has been campaigning for

(00:21):
Julian massanjan with us.

Speaker 2 (00:22):
Now, Hey David, yeah, hey, good to speak with you,
and good to speak with you knowing that a really
brave Australian citizen is on his way.

Speaker 1 (00:30):
Home by and when does he get home?

Speaker 2 (00:33):
Well, we're hoping that he'll be home before the week
is out, and I think he's you know, his family
and his supporters would would like him to have a
little bit of privacy on his trip back home and
his return to Australia, but we want him to be
dipping his feet in the sound of an Australian beach
before the week is out.

Speaker 1 (00:53):
Are you sure that he is totally safe from US
authorities when he's in Saipan.

Speaker 2 (00:59):
Well, look, no one's there are totally sure. I mean,
this is a government that was willing to reach across
the other side of the planet and then pluck him
from his family, prosecute him and try and keep him
in jail for life. But I have a lot of
regard and respect for his legal team. They would not
have allowed this to happen if they weren't sure that
it would end with his eventual freedom in Australia. So

(01:20):
you know, I have a lot of regard for his
legal team, and I'm certain that they've put in place
the protections they need for their client and so Julian
can get home.

Speaker 1 (01:31):
How much moove did the Aussie government do on the
flee deal?

Speaker 2 (01:35):
Well, look, I do want to give credit to the
Australian ambassador in Washington, Kevin Radiform, Australian Prime Minister. I know,
I know from reports from within the massage team. I
know from going over to Washington myself as part of
a broader delegation and urging the embassy and members of
US Congress to all they could to release Julian asun.

(01:57):
I know he's put genuine effort and I think that's
really important. I think the fact that we've had politicians
from across the political spectrum here in Australia unite together
to ask to well, to demand that Julian be allowed
to come home, I think I think that's all been
incredibly important.

Speaker 1 (02:14):
David, good to talk to you mate. Thank you so much,
appreciate it. David Shubridge, Green, Senator for New South Wales.

Speaker 2 (02:20):
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