This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2013/apr/02/julian-assange-australian-senate-campaign

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Julian Assange's Australian Senate campaign to be led by anti-monarchist Julian Assange's Australian Senate campaign to be led by anti-monarchist
(about 7 hours later)
Julian Assange, who has been holed up in London's Ecuadorean embassy for nine months, has appointed a high-profile opponent of Britain's monarchy to run his campaign for a seat in Australia's upper house of parliament.Julian Assange, who has been holed up in London's Ecuadorean embassy for nine months, has appointed a high-profile opponent of Britain's monarchy to run his campaign for a seat in Australia's upper house of parliament.
The former Australian Republican Movement head and barrister Greg Barns said on Monday he would be campaign director for the WikiLeaks party spearheading Assange's rare absentee bid for a Senate seat in Australia's 14 September election, which even if successful would not bring him any legal protection. The former Australian Republican Movement head and barrister Greg Barns said on Monday he would be campaign director for the WikiLeaks party, spearheading Assange's rare absentee bid for a Senate seat in Australia's 14 September election, which even if successful, would not bring him any legal protection.
"It's most definitely a serious campaign," Barns told Australian radio. "He does attract support from across the political spectrum. The party will offer a refreshing change from the Australian government culture of secrecy.""It's most definitely a serious campaign," Barns told Australian radio. "He does attract support from across the political spectrum. The party will offer a refreshing change from the Australian government culture of secrecy."
The former computer hacker, an Australian citizen, announced last year he would run for the 76-seat Senate and would use the protection of parliament to champion free speech and break court suppression orders.The former computer hacker, an Australian citizen, announced last year he would run for the 76-seat Senate and would use the protection of parliament to champion free speech and break court suppression orders.
Assange is considered a long shot to win a Senate seat as he would need to attract about 15% of votes in the state of Victoria. If he wins, he would be able to take his seat from 1 July 2014, but would need to return to Australia to be sworn in. Assange is considered a long shot to win a Senate seat as he would need to attract about 15% of votes in Victoria. If he wins, he would be able to take his seat from 1 July 2014, but would need to return to Australia to be sworn in.
If he wins a Senate seat, he would be covered by Australia's parliamentary privilege rules, which protect politicians against legal action over comments made in parliament.If he wins a Senate seat, he would be covered by Australia's parliamentary privilege rules, which protect politicians against legal action over comments made in parliament.
Barns, a high-profile political campaigner at home, said Assange's party had already secured backing from a prominent Melbourne philanthropist – the former Citibank executive Philip Wollen – and needed 500 members to fulfil party registration.Barns, a high-profile political campaigner at home, said Assange's party had already secured backing from a prominent Melbourne philanthropist – the former Citibank executive Philip Wollen – and needed 500 members to fulfil party registration.
Assange struck a defiant tone in a recent interview, telling the Australian academic website The Conversation that he felt "no fear" about the legal accusations against him.Assange struck a defiant tone in a recent interview, telling the Australian academic website The Conversation that he felt "no fear" about the legal accusations against him.
"The truth is I love a good fight. Many people are counting on me to be strong. I want my freedom, of course. But confinement gives me time to think," he said."The truth is I love a good fight. Many people are counting on me to be strong. I want my freedom, of course. But confinement gives me time to think," he said.
Assange, 41, whose website angered the United States by releasing thousands of secret diplomatic cables, took sanctuary in Ecuador's embassy in London last June, jumping bail after exhausting appeals in British courts against extradition to Sweden for sexual assault allegations.Assange, 41, whose website angered the United States by releasing thousands of secret diplomatic cables, took sanctuary in Ecuador's embassy in London last June, jumping bail after exhausting appeals in British courts against extradition to Sweden for sexual assault allegations.
The silver-haired Assange burst into global prominence in 2010 when WikiLeaks released secret footage, military files and diplomatic cables about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, prompting a furious response from the United States.The silver-haired Assange burst into global prominence in 2010 when WikiLeaks released secret footage, military files and diplomatic cables about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, prompting a furious response from the United States.