Anthony Albanese’s phone call to Julian Assange shortly after his plane landed in Australia has been branded “inappropriate”.
The 52-year-old Wikileaks founder landed in Canberra at 7.37pm on Wednesday, just hours after walking free from a US federal court on the Pacific island of Saipan.
The father of two reached a deal with the US government where he admitted to a conspiracy charge in court, ending a nearly 15-year legal battle with the US government that saw him hide in the Ecuadorian embassy. in the United Kingdom and later locked up in Belmarsh Prison in the United Kingdom.
Assange received a warm welcome from the Prime Minister of Australia upon his arrival in Australia, who personally thanked him for “saving his life” during a pre-arranged phone call.
Albanese later told a news conference that Assange had expressed gratitude to what he described as Australia’s “diplomatic A-team” during the call.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese posted a photo of himself calling Julian Assange as he landed at a military airport in Canberra.
Assange, 52, landed in Canberra shortly before 8pm on Wednesday, just hours after walking free from a US federal court on the Pacific island of Saipan.
When he saw his wife Stella for the first time, the 52-year-old hugged and kissed her (pictured)
“When I spoke to Mr. Assange this evening, he described it as a surreal and happy moment. I am very glad that this matter is over,” said Mr. Albanese.
“We know his safe return to Australia means a lot to his family.”
But opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham criticized Albanese’s phone call with Assange as “neither necessary nor appropriate” in a furious message to X.
“Julian Assange was not unjustly detained like Cheng Lei, Sean Turnell or Kylie Moore-Gilbert,” he wrote shortly after 9 p.m.
‘For 12 years, Assange chose to avoid facing justice in countries with fair judicial systems. She does not deserve this treatment.”
Birmingham said the prime minister should “rule out” making plans to meet Assange.
“The end of Julian Assange’s legal saga with his guilty plea is welcome,” he said. “However, he is not a martyr and was never a political prisoner denied access to justice.”
Former NATO official Edward Christie tweeted: “People who have chosen to work against our governments… do not deserve Prime Minister’s flowers when they get out of prison.”
Assange’s lawyer, Jennifer Robinson, responded to Birmingham on Thursday, saying he needed to “make his priorities clear.”
Birmingham said Albanese should ‘rule out’ making plans to meet Assange
Assange’s lawyer Jennifer Robinson (pictured) responded to Birmingham saying he needed to “get his priorities in order” after criticizing the phone call.
“It is entirely appropriate for the Australian Prime Minister to call an Australian citizen who has been through the same thing as Julian,” Ms Robinson told the ABC.
She confirmed that Assange had told Mr Albanese that he had saved his life.
“I don’t think it’s an exaggeration,” Ms. Robinson said.
“It is a great victory for Australia and for Australian democracy. It is a great victory for freedom of expression.
“It is a great victory for Australia that our Prime Minister has stood up to our ally, the United States, and demanded the return of an Australian citizen, and that Julian has returned home today.”
Stella Assange also supported Albanese making the call to her husband.
“I think Julian’s return to Australia is a historic moment, it belongs to all Australians,” he said.
“It belongs to Australia as a whole and I think it’s a time for everyone to celebrate that this Walkley award-winning journalist has finally been able to return to his home country.”
Assange (pictured) said he looked forward to swimming in the ocean every day and teaching his young children to fish for crabs like a free man.
In a social media post, Albanese said he had advocated for Assange’s long legal battle to end “at every opportunity and at every level.”
“Tonight I had the pleasure of speaking with Julian Assange to welcome him home to his family in Australia,” he wrote on X.
‘As Prime Minister, I have been clear: whatever you think of his activities, Mr Assange’s case had dragged on for too long.
‘I have advocated clearly and consistently, at every opportunity and at every level, for Mr. Assange’s case to be concluded.
“This is the result of careful, patient and determined work.”
Assange said he looked forward to swimming in the ocean every day and teaching his young children to fish for crabs like a free man.
