[Greens-Media] Media Release: NSW Greens condemn Australian Government's lies and inaction on Assange

[David Shoebridge MLC]

*Media Release: NSW Greens condemn Australian Government's lies and
inaction on Assange
*
*Media Release - 18 August 2012*

At its state delegates meeting today the NSW Greens expressed the party's
thanks to the government of Ecuador for providing political asylum for
Julian Assange and its condemnation of the Australian Government's lies and
inaction in regards to this Australian citizen.

NSW Greens MP David Shoebridge said:

"It is simply extraordinary that Julian Assange, an Australian citizen, is
facing extradition to the United States for essentially political charges
and our government does nothing.

"Documents made public today make it clear that the Australian government
has known since at least 2010 that Julian Assange is facing extradition to
the United States for his work with Wikileaks and his own government has
hidden this information from the public.

*Resolution passed today:*

That the NSW Greens:

1. Thanks the government of Ecuador for protecting an Australian citizen,
Julian Assange by granting him political asylum because of the real risk he
faces of extradition to the United States for the 'crime' of providing the
world's public with information on the secret operations of the world's
governments through Wikileaks.

2. Condemns the failure of the Australian government to stand up for the
rights of its citizen Julian Assange.

3. Notes with concern the threats of the United Kingdom government to storm
the Ecuadorian Embassy to violently remove Julian Assange.

4. Notes that there is now compelling evidence that the Australian
government has been aware of formal action being taken by the United States
government since 2010 to extradite and prosecute Julian Assange and has
failed to oppose or question these actions.

5. Expresses its deep concern that the Australian foreign minister Bob Carr
has repeatedly mislead the Australian public by stating that the Australian
government has "received no hint" that the United States plans to extradite
Julian Assange, and

6. Calls on the Australian government to publicly oppose Julian Assange's
extradition to the United States for his activities with Wikileaks,
cooperate with the Ecuadorian government in providing him political asylum
and oppose any actions by the government of the United Kingdom to
forcefully remove him from the Ecuadorian Embassy.

*Media contact: 0408 113 952*