Assange's wife says he needs time to recover (2024)

Thanks for following as we covered Julian Assange's long-awaited return to Australia as a free man.

He touched down in Canberra this evening, raised his arms in triumph and embraced his wife, Stella Assange.

A few hours later, she and his lawyers addressed the media, declaring they were delighted he was home but warning his prosecution set a "dangerous precedent".

You can read a wrap of the evening's events here.

Mrs Assange again addresses the potential for her husband to be pardoned in the future, and the effect such a decision could have on press freedom.

"I think he'll be pardoned if the press unites to push back against this precedent, because it affects all of you," she says.

"It affects your future ability to inform the public and to publish without fear."

Assange's supporters say publishing the documents was an act of journalism, an assertion fiercely disputed by US authorities and other detractors.

Mrs Assange says it's premature to think about whether Mr Assange will return to WikiLeaks to publish more documents.

"The fact is that Julian will always defend victims. He's always done that," she says.

"And that's just part of who he is. He is deeply principled and he remains deeply principled."

Pictures of the long-awaited reunion behind husband and wife captivated those watching earlier in the night.

Mrs Assange says she was "overcome by emotion", having not even realised people were there to greet them because it was dark.

"I think you've seen the pictures," she says.

"I don't want to express in words what is obvious from the images."

Mrs Assange criticises the prosecution of her husband as an "attack on journalism" and "an attack on the public's right to know".

A few minutes ago, US co-counsel Barry Pollock criticised the US Espionage Act more generally.

"For years, the US government has claimed that these publications did great harm," he said.

"Today in court, the United States government admitted that there is not a single person anywhere that they can produce that was actually harmed by these publications."

Stella Assange says her husband wanted to be here to thank people personally but he needs time to recover.

She asks for privacy and to give time to "let our family be a family" and says his freedom wouldn't be possible without broad support from Australians and across the political spectrum.

"It took millions of people," she says, to raucous applause.

"It took people working behind the scenes, people protesting on the streets for days and weeks and months and years, and we achieved it."

Robinson praises the work of Albanese and other Australian officials, confirming Assange told the prime minister he'd saved his life.

"I don't think that's an exaggeration," she says.

She says Assange is "incredibly grateful" for the support and campaigning.

"This is a huge win for Australia and for Australian democracy. This is a huge win for free speech," Robinson says.

"This is a huge win for Australia that our prime minister stood up to our ally, the United States, and demanded the return of an Australian citizen, and that Julian came home today."

Human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson says Assange's team is "absolutely delighted" to have reached the plea deal that allowed him to return to Australia.

But she criticises the "dangerous precedent" the prosecution set.

"In order to win his freedom, Julian pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit espionage for publishing evidence of US war crimes, human rights abuse and US wrongdoing around the world," she says.

"This is journalism. This is the criminalisation of journalism.

"And while the plea deal does not set a judicial precedent – it's not a court decision – the prosecution itself sets a precedent that can be used against the rest of the media."

Julian Assange's family and supporters will address the media shortly from a hotel in Canberra.

Wife Stella Assange, father John Shipton, and lawyers Jennifer Robinson and Barry Pollack are present.

Assange himself is not expected to address the media tonight.

You can watch the press conference live in the player above.