Australian PM Changes Tone on WikiLeaks
- 13 years ago
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Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard says WikiLeaks has not breached any Australian law. Gillard, who initially labelled WikiLeaks' release of cables an illegal act, has altered her tone after an investigation by Australian Federal Police, and is now calling the act "grossly irresponsible."
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard says the Federal Police advised her that WikiLeaks did not commit any criminal offense in the country by releasing secret U.S. diplomatic cables.
The government had earlier ordered the police to investigate whether WikiLeaks, founded by Australian Julian Assange, was criminally liable in Australia.
The request followed comments by Gillard that the "foundation stone" of the release of secret U.S. cables by WikiLeaks was "an illegal act that certainly breached the laws of the United States of America."
[Julia Gillard, Australian Prime Minister]:
"The government believed it was appropriate to refer the matter to the Australian Federal Police to ascertain whether or not there had been any breaches of any Australian law. We have done that now, we have received the advice and the advice is that there had been no breaches of Australian law."
Gillard has been criticized by WikiLeaks supporters and some members of her Labor government for subjecting prejudice on Assange in any future criminal case.
[Julia Gillard, Australian Prime Minister]:
"I know there are a number of people who are fans of WikiLeaks. Let me make it very very clear -- I am not. This is a grossly irresponsible matter in my view. The release of all of this documentation has been grossly irresponsible and I stand by the remarks that I have made about this previously."
Assange was released on bail in Britain on Thursday while he awaits a possible extradition to Sweden where he was charged for sex crimes.
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard says WikiLeaks has not breached any Australian law. Gillard, who initially labelled WikiLeaks' release of cables an illegal act, has altered her tone after an investigation by Australian Federal Police, and is now calling the act "grossly irresponsible."
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard says the Federal Police advised her that WikiLeaks did not commit any criminal offense in the country by releasing secret U.S. diplomatic cables.
The government had earlier ordered the police to investigate whether WikiLeaks, founded by Australian Julian Assange, was criminally liable in Australia.
The request followed comments by Gillard that the "foundation stone" of the release of secret U.S. cables by WikiLeaks was "an illegal act that certainly breached the laws of the United States of America."
[Julia Gillard, Australian Prime Minister]:
"The government believed it was appropriate to refer the matter to the Australian Federal Police to ascertain whether or not there had been any breaches of any Australian law. We have done that now, we have received the advice and the advice is that there had been no breaches of Australian law."
Gillard has been criticized by WikiLeaks supporters and some members of her Labor government for subjecting prejudice on Assange in any future criminal case.
[Julia Gillard, Australian Prime Minister]:
"I know there are a number of people who are fans of WikiLeaks. Let me make it very very clear -- I am not. This is a grossly irresponsible matter in my view. The release of all of this documentation has been grossly irresponsible and I stand by the remarks that I have made about this previously."
Assange was released on bail in Britain on Thursday while he awaits a possible extradition to Sweden where he was charged for sex crimes.