Julian Assange says PM 'saved his life', his lawyer reveals, while his wife asks for him to be given time to recover — as it happened (2024)

Thank you for joining us throughout out live coverage of Julian Assange's court hearing and return home.

It was certainly eventful!

You can look back on today's developments below, ordownload theABC News appandsubscribe to our range of news alertsfor the latest updates.

Here is a look back at some of today's key events:

• Julian Assange arrives at court house in Saipan
• Assange pleads guilty
• The moment Julian Assange walks out of court a free man
• Assange flying over Australia
• Supporters donate massive amount to cover Assange's jet cost
• Assange's plane touches down in Canberra
• Julian Assange steps out of plane and onto Australian soil
• The moment Assange reconnects with his wife
• Anthony Albanese is 'pleased this saga is over'
• 'You saved my life': Assange to PM
• Stella Assange asks public to give Julian Assange space as he 'recuperates'

Let's just also take a moment to thank Julian Assange's brother, Gabriel Shipton, whom I strongly believe was the heart and soul of this blog.

Well.. what an evening!

You guys were with us through it all.

Lawyer for Assange Barry Pollock says that he hopes the US Espionage Act is 'never used in this fashion' again.

Watch here:

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"I think he will be pardoned if the press unites to push back against this precedent," she says.

Asked if he will speak to the the PM in the coming days, she responds "no comment".

Listen to Stella Assange here:

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In response to the question, or argument, that Assange put lives at risk and his disclosures were not in the public interest, his wife Stella Assange says there is "no evidence of any actual harm".

She said that was "exactly what the US government acknowledged in court today".

"There is no denying the public interest in WikiLeaks publications."

Stella Assange continues:

"Julian needs time to recover. To get used to freedoms. Someone told me yesterday who had been through something similar, that freedom comes slowly. And I want Julian to have that space to rediscover freedom, slowly. And quickly."

Stella Assange says she was 'overcome with emotion' as she heard the crowd cheer for her husband's arrival.

"Then I turned the corner and then I saw that Julian was coming. And we embraced and I mean, I think you've seen the pictures," she says

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

Assange's legal advisorJennifer Robinson expressed her gratitude towards ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd.

She said his "relentless efforts in Washington" and his efforts working closely with herself and co-council Barry Pollack "completely changed [our] relationship with the US and completely changed the negotiations".

"Without his efforts and his adept diplomacy, we would not be in the position that we are in today and Julian would not be home."

Stella Assange thanks the supporters present and watching from home on behalf of her husband.

She says he wanted to be there in person to thank everyone, but he needs time to recuperate.

"I ask you, please, to give us space. To give us privacy," she says.

Stella adds at this moment he just wants to spend time with his family before "he can speak again at a time of his choosing".

"Julian should never have spent a single day in prison. But today, we celebrate, because today, Julian is free," she says to the cheers of supporters.

Julian Assange's legal advisor Jennifer Robinson is speaking.

She said Assange's guilty plea deal means he will spend no more time in prison.

"In order to win his freedom, Julian pleaded guilty to conspiracy to committing espionage for publishing US war crimes, human rights abuses and wrongdoing around the world."

"This is journalism," she said.

"This is the criminalisation of journalism."

She also thanks the PM and all of the officials working in DFAT who helped get Julian Assange back to Australia.

Stella Assange also thanks the Australian people who made this possible.

"Without their support, there would not be the political space to be able to achieve Julian's freedom," she says.

Jennifer Robinson adds:

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 is the product of 14 long years of legal battles, political advocacy and ongoing campaigning — not just by us, but by so many people in this community.

Robinson continues:

"As Prime Minister, he kept his word, he raised it at the highest level at every possible opportunity. He has continued to ask the US to bring this to an end and his efforts completely changed the situation for Julian," she says.

Jennifer Robinson has just stepped up to the mic.

She tells the media that Assange is "absolutely delighted" to come home after a very "long and complex negotiation with the US government.

She reveals Assange told the PM that he 'saved his life'.

"I don't think that is an exaggeration," the lawyer says.

Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Birminghamhad this to say about the PM's phone call with Julian Assange:

"This call is neither necessary nor appropriate. Julian Assange was not wrongfully detained like Cheng Lei, Sean Turnell or Kylie Moore-Gilbert," he says.

"For 12 years Assange chose to avoid facing justice in countries with fair judicial systems. He is underserving [sic] of this treatment."

Here's the full interview with Gabriel Shipton.

My favourite moment:

He tells ABC he promised his 10-year-old daughter he would buy her a dog when "we get Julian got out of prison".

"She's been texting me through this whole interview of the different dogs she wants."

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ABC's North Asia correspondent James Oaten has walked us through what it was like inside the Saipan court that heard Assange's guilty plea today.

He says today came down to convincing the Judge this was a "good deal and a fair deal".

He says she had noted the age of this ase had heavily influenced her decision.

"She decided there's really no point forcing him to spend any more time in jail," Oaten tells ABC News Channel.

"He's a felon, a convicted felon, but also a free man."

Watch the full cross from Saipan below:

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Stella Assange spoke briefly to the media as they headed into East Hotel, where Assange's family is due to speak.

Stella was emotional but managed to say that she and Assange were able to share a special "private moment" as they were reunited on Australian soil.

We're hearing Julian Assange may not have been in the car alongside his family.

As soon as I know more, you will!!

The beauty of live news, friends. You never know what can happen!