January 31, 2013

Assange to run for Australian senate: WikiLeaks (AFP)

... WikiLeaks unveiled the plan with a tweet that read "Australia: Julian Assange has confirmed he will run in the 2013 national election for the Australian Senate", just hours after Prime Minister Julia Gillard said the nation would go to the polls on September 14.

The 41-year-old's mother, Christine Assange, was delighted. "He will be awesome. In the House of Representatives we get to choose between US lackey party number one and US lackey party number two -- between the major parties ...

A later WikiLeaks tweet said Queensland-born Assange would "run on WikiLeaks party ticket" ...

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jk_OLqtC1wB-234yuata434tctFQ?docId=CNG.1f64df9458b0d5a6427c0b4be9aa4693.4d1


... Shortly after asking his son to join WikiLeaks in 2007, Assange left Australia permanently. Since then, the two have had no contact ...
Daniel Assange: I never thought WikiLeaks would succeed
by Crikey intern Nick Johns-Wickberg | Sep 17, 2010 1:17P
http://www.crikey.com.au/2010/09/17/daniel-assange-i-never-thought-wikileaks-would-succeed/


... extradition shall be granted .. in respect of the following offences ...
(vii) Rape.
(viii) Unlawful sexual intercourse with a female.
(ix) Indecent assault ...
Treaty between Australia and Sweden concerning extradition
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_reg/er322/sch1.html


... there appeared to be little room for maneuver, with Mr. Hague saying “no one should be in any doubt” of Britain’s determination to fulfill its obligations to Sweden under Europe’s extradition law ...
Assange Faces Long Stay in Ecuador’s London Embassy
By JOHN F. BURNS
Published: August 16, 2012
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/17/world/europe/assange-faces-long-stay-in-ecuadors-embassy.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0


... "It is time for the United States to cease its persecution of WikiLeaks, to cease its persecution of our people and to cease its persecution of our alleged sources," Julian Assange, speaking via satellite from London, told a packed conference room at the United Nations ...
Assange speaks via satellite from London, calls for end to 'persecution'
By Ashley Fantz, CNN
updated 1:15 AM EDT, Thu September 27, 2012
http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/26/world/assange-un-address/index.html


WOMEN in Australia have joined forces to call for the sacking of a judge who told a jury that it was acceptable for men to use 'rough handling' on their wives to persuade them to have sexual intercourse. The remarks by Judge Derek Bollen in the Supreme Court of South Australia have caused a nationwide furore, uniting women of all political hues in their demands that judges undergo training courses in male-female relationships and that they be vetted before they are allowed to preside over cases involving rape ...
Judge's rape tales infuriate Australian women
From ROBERT MILLIKEN in Sydney
Thursday 14 January 1993
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/judges-rape-tales-infuriate-australian-women-1478386.html


... Mr Assange's lawyer Judge Baltasar Garzón Real ... attacked the Australian Government for not providing proper consular assistance to the former computer programmer. His comments prompted an immediate rebuttal from Australia's Foreign Affairs Minister, Bob Carr, who said Assange had been contacted 62 times by Australian consular officials ... Mr Garzón said the Australian Government's response to requests for assistance had been "entirely negative" ... "Whilst he's been in the Ecuadorian embassy we have made contact with the embassy on eight occassions either in person or by phone to check on his welfare and to offer consular assistance," Mr Carr's spokesman said ...
Carr hits back at Assange attacks as lawyer hints at 'surprise' in store
August 24, 2012
Rory Callinan, Dan Harrison


... Members of the Australian Parliament do not have legal immunity: they can be arrested and tried for any offence ...
Parliament of Australia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_Australia


... The Constitution, section 42, requires senators to make and subscribe (sign) before the Governor-General, or some person authorised by the Governor-General, an oath or affirmation of allegiance in the form set out in the Constitution. Senators make and sign the oath or affirmation at the first sitting of the Senate which they attend after the commencement of their terms as senators ... Section 42 requires that a senator make and subscribe the oath or affirmation before taking the senator’s seat in the Senate ...
Odgers' Australian Senate Practice Thirteenth Edition
Chapter 6 - Senators
http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Senate/Powers_practice_n_procedures/odgers13?file=chapter06§ion=05


... Twomey is doubtful that Assange can convince the electoral commission that he wants to return to Australia, given that he has lived almost abroad for almost six years. And if Assange can't qualify as an eligible overseas voter, he can't run at all ...
Can Assange Really Become an Australian Senator?
Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai
Dec 13, 2012
http://mashable.com/2012/12/13/assange-australian-senate/