Media Release: 12 December 2022
'STOP THE EXTRADITION' PROTEST
BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION, CANBERRA
12.30pm, Tuesday 13th December
"He's committed acts of journalism, disclosed war crimes, and thus embarrassed the US government. For the ‘crime’ of exposing these truths to the world, Julian Assange has so far spent 3 years in high security detention in Belmarsh prison outside London, after 7 years confined in the Ecuadorian embassy. The UK government may agree to the USA application to extradite him. The result would be appalling, devastating, an assault on press freedom and democracy, and an indictment against all of us who stood by and passively watched this unfold," said Kathryn Kelly, co-convenor of the Alliance Against Political Prosecutions.
"The Prime Minister has said ‘enough is enough’ in relation to Assange’s ongoing detention. We are echoing that call, and this is the time for the UK Government to act.
"The extradition request for Assange is clearly for a ‘political offense’, as his lawyer Jennifer Robinson described so clearly at her recent National Press Club address. The UK Extradition Treaty Article 4 states, “1. Extradition shall not be granted if the offence for which extradition is requested is a political offence.”
"Freedom of the press, including stopping the intimidation of journalists as is happening with this extradition request, requires that this ‘matter to be brought to a close’, as PM Albanese has requested. At the time of his response to Monique Ryan's question in parliament, the British High Commissioner, Victoria Treadell, was reportedly in the visitors' gallery accompanied by the UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, so they cannot be unaware of the Australian government's call.
There is some talk that the US might not object to the case being brought to an end by a UK government refusal of the extradition. We call on UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, or Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, to refuse the extradition and put an end to this sorry saga.
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CONTACT: Kathryn Kelly, 0417 269 984
Kathryn Kelly
Co-convenor, Alliance Against Political Prosecutions
0417 269 984
PO Box 549, Curtin, ACT 2605
https://www.facebook.com/Dropwhistleblowerprosecutions/
Twitter: @DProsecutions
Media Release, 25 April 2022
Protests around Australia demand the dropping of whistleblower prosecutions and a strong ICAC
The Alliance Against Political Prosecutions condemns the ongoing prosecutions of Bernard Collaery, ADF whistleblower David McBride and ATO whistleblower, Richard Boyle, by the Commonwealth Department of Public Prosecutions (CDPP) and the Government. The prosecutions must be dropped! Protests will be held at
Canberra 9 am, Tuesday 26 April, in front of the ACT Supreme court
Perth 10 am, Tuesday 26 April, in front of Michaelia Cash’s office, 44 Outram St, West Pert
Melbourne 5 pm, Tuesday 26 April, at the State Library, Swanston St
Brisbane 8 am, Thursday 28 April, King George Square
Sydney 12.30 pm, Thursday 28 April, next to Federal Court, 184 Phillip St. “These prosecutions represent a disturbing trend by the CDPP and the Australian Government of punishing truth tellers and of destruction of our open justice system,” said Kathryn Kelly, co-convenor of the AAPP.
“We also demand that the Government make representations to the UK and US Governments to stop the imminent extradition of Julian Assange to the US and free him and bring him home. He has committed no crime, but has already spent 3 years in a high security jail in the UK,” she continued.
“We need a strong Independent Commission Against Corruption with teeth, to investigate the origins of these prosecutions. What are they trying to hide?”
CONTACT: Kathryn Kelly 0417 269 984
Co-convenor of the AAPP
https://aapp.ipan.org.au/
https://www.facebook.com/Dropwhistleblowerprosecutions/
Twitter: @DProsecutions
Updated 1.08 pm 25.4.22
The Human Rights Law Centre appeared for Richard Boyle at his appeal hearing 9 August 2023
Human Rights Law Centre Senior Lawyer Kieran Pender says “Richard Boyle’s appeal will determine the strength of protections for all Australian whistleblowers”
Duggan used as political pawn
Albanese Complicit in United States’ Use of Australian Citizen as Political Pawn
4 August 2023
David McBride faces court on the 11th April, gather 8am at the ACT courts
Military whistleblower David McBride is facing the ACT Supreme Court on 11 April at 9am to set a date for his trial for providing the public information about alleged war crimes in Afghanistan.
We will be having a rally at the courts at 8am on 11 April to support David.
Please come along on this important date.
US asks Australia for extradition of former Marines pilot Daniel Duggan
Australia’s attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, has until 25 December to make a decision under a bilateral extradition treaty, said Glover.
Outside the court, Duggan’s lawyer, Dennis Miralis, said Australia should oppose extradition, because there was no equivalent Australian law to the charges contained in the 2017 US indictment against Duggan…
He also argued the charges are “political”, an exception to extradition under the bilateral treaty.
'STOP THE EXTRADITION' PROTEST’ 12.30pm, 13 December 2022
“Stop the extradition’ protest 12.30pm, 13 December
Media Release: 12 December 2022
‘Stop the extradition’ Protest, British High Commission Canberra, Tuesday 13 December, 12.30pm
"The extradition request for Assange is clearly for a ‘political offense’, as his lawyer Jennifer Robinson described so clearly at her recent National Press Club address. The UK Extradition Treaty Article 4 states, “1. Extradition shall not be granted if the offence for which extradition is requested is a political offence.”
Climate activist Violet Coco faces 15 months jail
Human rights advocates labelled the sentence “disproportionate”, with Clément Voule, the UN’s special rapporteur on freedom of association and peaceful assembly, saying over the weekend he was “alarmed” by the sentence and the court’s refusal to consider bail for her appeal until March.
Violet is now out on bail and faces court in Sydney on 15 March.
Pressure mounting for AG to drop prosecutions of whistleblowers, McBride and Boyle
A group of 17 international whistleblowing organisations have written to AG Dreyfus asking that he halt the prosecutions of whistleblowers, former ADF lawyer David McBride and ex ATO officer, Richard Boyle. They state that Australia's reputation is being harmed by the prosecutions.
Freeing Julian Assange - Big events coming up this week – we hope we will see you there.
Freeing Julian Assange - Big events coming up this week – we hope we will see you there.
Jennifer Robinson is speaking at the National Press Club this Wednesday 19th Oct! We want to give her a fantastic welcome reception outside at 11.30pm to 12 noon, please come along! Bookings here.
She has been extremely courageous in her defence of Julian Assange and is the person best placed to hear from regarding Julian’s situation. Y
Come along to a Rally to support David McBride, 9am Thurs 27 October at ACT Courts
Speakers:
Dr Monique Ryan MP,
Bernard Collaery, lawyer and former ACT Attorney-General, prosecuted for standing up for Timor-Leste,
Tosca Lloyd, Media & Democracy Campaigns Director from GetUp,
Greens Senator David Shoebridge,
Kieran Pender , senior lawyer, Human Rights Law Centre, Mary Kostakidis, journalist and former SBS news presenter.
Former military lawyer, Major McBride is being prosecuted for disclosing classified documents exposing alleged war crimes in Afghanistan to the ABC resulting in the 2017 ABC TV program, The Afghan Files.
The goverment’s Brereton Report has since validated his revelations.
Federal ICAC's 'restrictive' bar for public hearings a worry as parliamentary scrutiny begins
The federal government's proposed anti-corruption watchdog would be subject to one of the country's most restrictive public hearing tests, transparency experts warn.
It comes as a parliamentary committee begins its hearings on Tuesday into the National Anti-Corruption Commission bill with department and expert witnesses appearing across three full days until Thursday.
Freeing Julian Assange - Big events coming up this week – we hope we will see you there.
Freeing Julian Assange - Big events coming up this week – we hope we will see you there.
Jennifer Robinson is speaking at the National Press Club this Wednesday 19th Oct! We want to give her a fantastic welcome reception outside at 11.30pm to 12 noon, please come along! Bookings here.
National Press Club - gather for Assange and Jennifer Robinson, Wed, 19 Oct 1.40pm
Gather outside the National Press Club to support Julian Assange and Jennifer Robinson, after her talk there.
The Centre for Public Integrity: The National Anti-Corruption Commission Bill 2022
URGENT: Can you make a submission to the Parliamentary inquiry into the National Anti- Corruption Commission Bill by Friday 14 October? The Bill and information on how to make a submission is at this link or you can make one through GetUp. The Centre for Public Integrity also has information on the shortcomings of the Bill.
Some of the main shortcomings are that public hearings will only be held if there are “exceptional circumstances”, the whistleblower protections In the Bill are too weak and the Attorney-General has too much power to declare a national security certificate which may mean an event cannot be investigated. We know how disastrous it is if an Attorney-General, such as Christian Porter, has so much power.
Whistleblower Richard Boyle feared ATO tactics would cause ‘suicide in community’, court hears, Tory Shepherd, the Guardian, 6 October 2022
The whistleblower Richard Boyle has told a court of his fears that the actions of the Australian Taxation Office would lead to “suicide and death in the community”.
Boyle alleged ATO employees were put under pressure to bypass normal negotiations with taxpayers who owed money and move quickly towards more aggressive tactics.
Bernard Collaery challenges Australian government to lead 'breakout solution' to free Julian Assange, Toby Vue, Canberra Times
The Australian government needs to lead a "breakout solution" to resolve the "endless circuitry" oppressing "foremost international prisoner of conscience" Julian Assange, prominent lawyer Bernard Collaery has said.
AAPP - Bernard Collaery speaking at SOS 4Assange Rally, this Saturday 11am British High Commission
Please come along and bring your friends to the International Day of Action, SOS 4Assange! on 8 October in Canberra
Free Julian Assange!
11am, Saturday 8 October 2022
British High Commission, Commonwealth Ave Yarralumla
The Australian government must not allow the extradition process to continue and for Assange to be taken, probably to die, in America. Reporting war crimes must not be a crime, or what does that say about our justice system and morality?
Suppression Orders Lifted for Richard Boyle
“The South Australian courts have lifted suppression orders that would have stymied the media’s ability to report on a landmark case launched by tax office whistleblower Richard Boyle.”
Letter to PM Albanese calling for action on Assange
Dear Prime Minister
As we have previously conveyed to you, the Alliance Against Political Prosecutions (AAPP) is extremely concerned about Julian Assange’s incarceration in Belmarsh Prison and the charges against him by the US, as well as the extradition proceedings.
Media articles on Richard Boyle’s case
Media articles on ATO whistleblower Richard Boyle’s case