01:19Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he is 'pleased' that WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange was returning home to Australia on Wednesday following his release from prison in a US plea deal.
"Regardless of your views about his activities, and they will be varied, Mr. Assange's case has dragged on for too long. I’ve said repeatedly that there was nothing to be gained from his continued incarceration and I am pleased that he is on his way home to Australia to reunite with his family here." the prime minister said during a parliament meeting.
Albanese affirmed that the Australian government will continue to provide contour assistance to Assange. He also claimed that an 'overwhelming' number of Australians wanted to see the journalist return to the country.
"As I said, they will have different views about the engagement and the activities of Mr. Assange but they will be pleased that this saga has been brought to an end and that he will be able to reunite with his family," he continued.
According to WikiLeaks, Assange left Belmarsh prison on Monday evening after reaching a plea deal with the US, boarding a plane at London's Stansted Airport.
He will attend a hearing in Saipan - the largest of the Northern Mariana Islands, a US commonwealth - on Wednesday morning, reportedly due to its proximity to Australia and his own opposition to travelling to the United States.
Assange is expected to plead guilty to one count of conspiring to obtain and disclose US national defence documents, with the sentence to reflect time served in Belmarsh - and return to home to Australia.
The WikiLeaks founder has been detained in London since 2019, and fought a long-running extradition battle with the US over 18 charges related to the release of classified documents involving the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
He was initially granted political asylum by Ecuador in the British capital in 2012 but was dragged from the embassy by UK police seven years later.
'Nothing to be gained by his continued incarceration' - Albanese 'pleased' with Assange's return to Australia following prison release
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he is 'pleased' that WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange was returning home to Australia on Wednesday following his release from prison in a US plea deal.
"Regardless of your views about his activities, and they will be varied, Mr. Assange's case has dragged on for too long. I’ve said repeatedly that there was nothing to be gained from his continued incarceration and I am pleased that he is on his way home to Australia to reunite with his family here." the prime minister said during a parliament meeting.
Albanese affirmed that the Australian government will continue to provide contour assistance to Assange. He also claimed that an 'overwhelming' number of Australians wanted to see the journalist return to the country.
"As I said, they will have different views about the engagement and the activities of Mr. Assange but they will be pleased that this saga has been brought to an end and that he will be able to reunite with his family," he continued.
According to WikiLeaks, Assange left Belmarsh prison on Monday evening after reaching a plea deal with the US, boarding a plane at London's Stansted Airport.
He will attend a hearing in Saipan - the largest of the Northern Mariana Islands, a US commonwealth - on Wednesday morning, reportedly due to its proximity to Australia and his own opposition to travelling to the United States.
Assange is expected to plead guilty to one count of conspiring to obtain and disclose US national defence documents, with the sentence to reflect time served in Belmarsh - and return to home to Australia.
The WikiLeaks founder has been detained in London since 2019, and fought a long-running extradition battle with the US over 18 charges related to the release of classified documents involving the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
He was initially granted political asylum by Ecuador in the British capital in 2012 but was dragged from the embassy by UK police seven years later.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he is 'pleased' that WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange was returning home to Australia on Wednesday following his release from prison in a US plea deal.
"Regardless of your views about his activities, and they will be varied, Mr. Assange's case has dragged on for too long. I’ve said repeatedly that there was nothing to be gained from his continued incarceration and I am pleased that he is on his way home to Australia to reunite with his family here." the prime minister said during a parliament meeting.
Albanese affirmed that the Australian government will continue to provide contour assistance to Assange. He also claimed that an 'overwhelming' number of Australians wanted to see the journalist return to the country.
"As I said, they will have different views about the engagement and the activities of Mr. Assange but they will be pleased that this saga has been brought to an end and that he will be able to reunite with his family," he continued.
According to WikiLeaks, Assange left Belmarsh prison on Monday evening after reaching a plea deal with the US, boarding a plane at London's Stansted Airport.
He will attend a hearing in Saipan - the largest of the Northern Mariana Islands, a US commonwealth - on Wednesday morning, reportedly due to its proximity to Australia and his own opposition to travelling to the United States.
Assange is expected to plead guilty to one count of conspiring to obtain and disclose US national defence documents, with the sentence to reflect time served in Belmarsh - and return to home to Australia.
The WikiLeaks founder has been detained in London since 2019, and fought a long-running extradition battle with the US over 18 charges related to the release of classified documents involving the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
He was initially granted political asylum by Ecuador in the British capital in 2012 but was dragged from the embassy by UK police seven years later.