1 00:00:00,640 --> 00:00:03,760 Speaker 1: Already and this is this is the daily This is 2 00:00:03,800 --> 00:00:04,520 Speaker 1: the Daily OS. 3 00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:06,960 Speaker 2: Oh, now it makes sense. 4 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:17,920 Speaker 1: Good morning and welcome to the Daily OS. It's Friday, 5 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:21,800 Speaker 1: the twenty third of February. I'm zara, I'm emma. This week, 6 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:25,759 Speaker 1: Wikileaku's founder, Julian Assange is back in the news. It's 7 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:29,360 Speaker 1: because his final appeal to avoid extradition from the UK 8 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:33,240 Speaker 1: to the US is currently underway in the UK High Court. 9 00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:36,199 Speaker 3: Following two days of hearings, judges at the High Court 10 00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:38,839 Speaker 3: in London today announced that they won't make a decision 11 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:42,160 Speaker 3: on Julian Massage's extradition to the United States until March 12 00:00:42,159 --> 00:00:47,320 Speaker 3: at the earliest. 13 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:50,920 Speaker 1: The United States plotted to murder my husband. He's being 14 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:55,160 Speaker 1: accused of journalism now. Assange is facing eighteen charges in 15 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:58,240 Speaker 1: the US and that relates to the leaking of thousands 16 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:02,880 Speaker 1: of confidential government documents. If found guilty, he faces penalties 17 00:01:02,920 --> 00:01:05,920 Speaker 1: of up to one hundred and seventy five years behind bars. 18 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:09,039 Speaker 1: The courts now concluded the two day hearings and will 19 00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:12,360 Speaker 1: hand down its decision soon. In today's Deep Dive, we 20 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:15,800 Speaker 1: will explain the importance of that decision Before we get there. Lom, 21 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:17,000 Speaker 1: what's making headlines. 22 00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:22,759 Speaker 2: Australia's gender pay gap has dropped to the lowest figure 23 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:26,360 Speaker 2: on record of twelve percent. That's according to the latest 24 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:30,160 Speaker 2: Australian Bureau of Statistics Earnings Report, which is released every 25 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:33,160 Speaker 2: six months. It's the third time in a row that 26 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:36,600 Speaker 2: the gender pay gap has fallen. Data collected between May 27 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:40,200 Speaker 2: and November last year shows women's average full time earnings 28 00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:43,480 Speaker 2: increased by three point five percent, compared to an increase 29 00:01:43,480 --> 00:01:47,039 Speaker 2: in men's earnings of two point three percent. Annual growth 30 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:50,279 Speaker 2: in women's wages remained strong at five point five percent. 31 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:56,200 Speaker 1: Melbourne Football Club player Angus Brayshaw has announced his retirement 32 00:01:56,240 --> 00:02:00,480 Speaker 1: from the AFL after medical advice following a concussion. The 33 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:03,120 Speaker 1: twenty eight year old sustained a concussion during the d's 34 00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:07,320 Speaker 1: twenty twenty three qualifying final against Collingwood. The head knock 35 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:10,600 Speaker 1: prompted the AFL to introduce new high contact rules for 36 00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:14,600 Speaker 1: players ahead of this season. Brayshaw said he was quote 37 00:02:14,639 --> 00:02:18,240 Speaker 1: devastated but respected the verdict of healthcare professionals. 38 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:23,760 Speaker 2: A joint investigation by Australian and US authorities has led 39 00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 2: to multiple arrests in relation to an international child abuse ring. 40 00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:32,919 Speaker 2: Authorities alleged the ring was exchanging child abuse material online. 41 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:36,799 Speaker 2: Police in multiple Australian states worked with the Australian Federal 42 00:02:36,840 --> 00:02:41,639 Speaker 2: Police and US authorities to dismantle the operation. Nine men 43 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:44,720 Speaker 2: have now been arrested and charged with more than seventy 44 00:02:44,919 --> 00:02:46,280 Speaker 2: combined offenses. 45 00:02:48,639 --> 00:02:51,800 Speaker 1: And the good news, Beyonce has become the first black 46 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:55,560 Speaker 1: woman to top the Billboard Country chart ever. Her single 47 00:02:55,720 --> 00:02:58,280 Speaker 1: Texas Oldham came out during the Super Bowl how Could 48 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:01,040 Speaker 1: We Ever Forget on the eleventh of Fairs and has 49 00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 1: topped the charts in less than two weeks. Beyonce released 50 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:08,160 Speaker 1: the song alongside sixteen Carriages after she featured in a 51 00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:11,120 Speaker 1: Super Bowl commercial. Her new album is set to drop 52 00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:12,519 Speaker 1: on the twenty ninth of March. 53 00:03:16,639 --> 00:03:19,680 Speaker 2: Zara, I feel like with this story of Julian Assange, 54 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:23,080 Speaker 2: there are just so many twists and turns. This is 55 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:25,799 Speaker 2: something that's been in the news for over a decade, 56 00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:28,679 Speaker 2: and it can be hard to keep up with if 57 00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:31,400 Speaker 2: people have dipped in and out over the years, or 58 00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:33,400 Speaker 2: you know, maybe if they're younger and they're newer to 59 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:37,840 Speaker 2: this story. It's pretty complicated. So can you take us 60 00:03:37,880 --> 00:03:42,160 Speaker 2: back to the very beginning and tell us who Julian 61 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:44,400 Speaker 2: Assange is I m. 62 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:46,520 Speaker 1: So to take this story back to the beginning. We're 63 00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:50,480 Speaker 1: actually going to Queensland in Australia. That is where Julian 64 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:55,080 Speaker 1: Assange was born in nineteen seventy one. Assange worked as 65 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:59,360 Speaker 1: a computer programmer before setting up the website WikiLeaks in 66 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:03,120 Speaker 1: two thousand and six. Now, Wikiliks was designed to share 67 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:08,400 Speaker 1: censored materials involving war, spying and corruption, and the idea 68 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:10,040 Speaker 1: was that they were going to share all of this 69 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:14,480 Speaker 1: content with the public. Wikiliks claims to have published more 70 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:18,240 Speaker 1: than ten million documents. It was launched during the US's 71 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:21,880 Speaker 1: wars in Iraq and Afghanistan following the nine to eleven 72 00:04:21,960 --> 00:04:25,360 Speaker 1: terrorist attacks, and now claims to have published more than 73 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:27,440 Speaker 1: ten million documents. 74 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:31,760 Speaker 2: An Aussie computer programmer from Queensland Townsville, of all places, 75 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:35,320 Speaker 2: I'm trying to reconcile that idea with the person we 76 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:38,800 Speaker 2: know today, Julian Assange, one of the most famous figures 77 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:42,000 Speaker 2: in the world today. How did we get there? What 78 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:45,680 Speaker 2: happened to make Julian Assange the person we know today? 79 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:51,520 Speaker 1: So in twenty ten, WikiLeaks posted thousands of classified documents 80 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:54,279 Speaker 1: relating to as I said, those US led wars in 81 00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:59,440 Speaker 1: the Middle East, and these leaks specifically included claims that 82 00:04:59,680 --> 00:05:04,360 Speaker 1: US armed forces were responsible for an estimated fifteen thousand 83 00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:09,880 Speaker 1: unreported civilian deaths. These documents also revealed secret diplomatic dealings 84 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:14,400 Speaker 1: between the US government and foreign leaders. Eventually, former US 85 00:05:14,520 --> 00:05:18,560 Speaker 1: Army intelligence officer Chelsea Manning was actually found responsible for 86 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:22,760 Speaker 1: handing that information to Wiki leagues. She served jail time 87 00:05:22,920 --> 00:05:25,840 Speaker 1: over her role in the twenty ten leagues, but Julian 88 00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:29,240 Speaker 1: Assange hasn't actually ever been convicted of a crime. 89 00:05:29,640 --> 00:05:34,679 Speaker 2: It's interesting because I think if listeners remember the case 90 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:38,000 Speaker 2: against Chelsea Manning, it felt like that was the time 91 00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:41,160 Speaker 2: when if we were going to see legal action mounted 92 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:46,400 Speaker 2: against Julian Assange, because obviously, you know, they were interested 93 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:50,680 Speaker 2: in pursuing WikiLeaks for criminal activity, and we've been waiting 94 00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:54,040 Speaker 2: a long time. It's now twenty twenty four. Chelsea Manning 95 00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:56,719 Speaker 2: has served time and since been released for her involvement 96 00:05:56,760 --> 00:05:59,200 Speaker 2: in Wiki leagues. What about Julian Assange. 97 00:05:59,800 --> 00:06:02,960 Speaker 1: This is where the story gets a bit complex. I'd 98 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:07,400 Speaker 1: say so. In twenty twelve, Ecuador's embassy in the UK 99 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:12,720 Speaker 1: provided Julian Assange with political asylum and in simple terms, 100 00:06:12,720 --> 00:06:15,400 Speaker 1: that just means protection. So it meant that he was 101 00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:19,279 Speaker 1: protected while living in that embassy. It meant that he 102 00:06:19,320 --> 00:06:23,520 Speaker 1: couldn't be extradited to the US if any spying charges 103 00:06:23,520 --> 00:06:26,240 Speaker 1: were brought against him. So by living there, he was 104 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:29,640 Speaker 1: fully protected against any extradition. 105 00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:35,400 Speaker 2: And so that's because AARA embassies actors kind of diplomatic 106 00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:38,479 Speaker 2: safe havens, if you will. So even though he was 107 00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:43,280 Speaker 2: on British soil, the Ecuadorian embassy is a protected sort 108 00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:45,080 Speaker 2: of state in that place. 109 00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:49,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, exactly. And I think to understand why Ecuador did this, 110 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:53,039 Speaker 1: there is a lot behind why Ecuador did this, but 111 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:55,800 Speaker 1: I think putting it in their words is probably the 112 00:06:55,839 --> 00:06:58,520 Speaker 1: easiest way to explain it. So they say that they 113 00:06:58,600 --> 00:07:02,240 Speaker 1: granted him political assign at that time because they said 114 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:07,719 Speaker 1: there are serious indications of retaliation that could endanger his safety, integrity, 115 00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:10,880 Speaker 1: and even his life. So back in twenty twelve, that's 116 00:07:10,920 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 1: what Ecuador is saying. And I mean, I think we 117 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:17,600 Speaker 1: can all remember those images of Julian Assange in the embassy. 118 00:07:17,640 --> 00:07:20,640 Speaker 1: He was like holed up in this tiny, tiny room 119 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:23,560 Speaker 1: and that was essentially his home for a number of years. 120 00:07:24,120 --> 00:07:28,680 Speaker 1: And that protection also meant that Assange couldn't be extradited 121 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:31,920 Speaker 1: to Sweden. And the reason that Sweden was involved is 122 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:36,680 Speaker 1: because Swedish authorities brought rape charges against Julian Assange in 123 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 1: twenty ten. Those rape charges were later dropped by Swedish authorities, 124 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:44,800 Speaker 1: but Assange's protection by the Ecuadorian embassy meant that he 125 00:07:44,880 --> 00:07:47,240 Speaker 1: never had to go to Sweden to face them while 126 00:07:47,240 --> 00:07:48,040 Speaker 1: they were still live. 127 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:53,680 Speaker 2: Okay, so we've got this Aussie guy in an embassy, 128 00:07:54,400 --> 00:08:00,600 Speaker 2: the Ecuadorian embassy in London, living few geographies there, living 129 00:08:00,640 --> 00:08:03,560 Speaker 2: in a room in an embassy in London. Yeah, lots 130 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:07,160 Speaker 2: of locations as you mentioned. Yeah, but what happened next? 131 00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:11,520 Speaker 1: So while Assinge was living in that Ecuadorian embassy, the 132 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:14,960 Speaker 1: US did begin to mount a legal case against him, 133 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:18,080 Speaker 1: and it was expected that this would happen. The US 134 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:21,600 Speaker 1: was alleging that the leaked documents that they suggested he 135 00:08:21,720 --> 00:08:25,640 Speaker 1: was responsible for leaking. They said that those documents threatened 136 00:08:25,800 --> 00:08:30,160 Speaker 1: the US's national security. Now, if we fast forward to 137 00:08:30,440 --> 00:08:35,520 Speaker 1: twenty nineteen, the Ecuadorian embassy actually revoked his protection, so 138 00:08:35,800 --> 00:08:38,439 Speaker 1: he was kicked out of the embassy, and that meant 139 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:41,760 Speaker 1: he no longer had that political protection that he had 140 00:08:41,800 --> 00:08:46,240 Speaker 1: once had, and I mean UK police worked very fast. 141 00:08:46,320 --> 00:08:49,319 Speaker 1: They actually arrested him on the same day that he 142 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:52,600 Speaker 1: was released from the Ecuadorian embassy, and they arrested him 143 00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:55,560 Speaker 1: on behalf of the US and he's been held in 144 00:08:55,600 --> 00:08:58,520 Speaker 1: a UK high security prison ever since that day. 145 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 2: So seven years living within the Ecuadorian embassy in London, 146 00:09:06,200 --> 00:09:10,520 Speaker 2: twenty nineteen, he leaves the embassy, is arrested the same day, 147 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:14,840 Speaker 2: has been in prison since that point. But the UK 148 00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:18,440 Speaker 2: arrested him on behalf of the US, as you mentioned. Yeah, 149 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:24,439 Speaker 2: so they want him in the US to face those charges, right, Yeah, they. 150 00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:27,400 Speaker 1: Want to extradite him from the UK to the US. 151 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:30,880 Speaker 1: And that just means that they want to essentially forcibly 152 00:09:30,920 --> 00:09:33,920 Speaker 1: deport him from the UK to the US, and that 153 00:09:34,120 --> 00:09:37,720 Speaker 1: is to face trial. They are saying that he can't 154 00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:41,320 Speaker 1: face trial in the UK if it's US authorities bringing 155 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:44,800 Speaker 1: those charges. To go a bit deeper on what the 156 00:09:44,920 --> 00:09:48,720 Speaker 1: charges actually are, they are eighteen of them, and if 157 00:09:48,760 --> 00:09:51,640 Speaker 1: he has found guilty of those charges, and they all 158 00:09:51,679 --> 00:09:55,200 Speaker 1: relate vaguely to this idea of spying. If he has 159 00:09:55,240 --> 00:09:59,080 Speaker 1: found guilty, Julian Osane could face a maximum sentence of 160 00:09:59,120 --> 00:10:01,720 Speaker 1: one hundred and sex seventy five years in prison. 161 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:05,840 Speaker 2: So I guess that answers the question that some people 162 00:10:05,920 --> 00:10:08,319 Speaker 2: might have about you know, what's the difference between being 163 00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:11,320 Speaker 2: in a high security prison in the UK versus the US. 164 00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:14,640 Speaker 2: Why are Assange and his team fighting so hard to 165 00:10:14,720 --> 00:10:17,240 Speaker 2: avoid going to the US? And I guess that's the point. 166 00:10:17,240 --> 00:10:20,080 Speaker 2: You know that he is facing life behind bars with 167 00:10:20,160 --> 00:10:21,280 Speaker 2: these charges. 168 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:24,800 Speaker 1: Exactly, And it's been quite a long journey in terms 169 00:10:24,840 --> 00:10:27,360 Speaker 1: of the US trying to get him to that country. 170 00:10:27,440 --> 00:10:30,640 Speaker 1: So in twenty twenty one, a UK court rejected the 171 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:34,720 Speaker 1: US's extraditional request and the judge at the time said 172 00:10:34,760 --> 00:10:38,000 Speaker 1: that sending Assange to the US would pose a significant 173 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:41,960 Speaker 1: mental health risk. But just a year later, the UK 174 00:10:42,040 --> 00:10:45,760 Speaker 1: government actually reversed the court's decision. And that brings us 175 00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:49,160 Speaker 1: to now because Julian Assigned is appealing that decision. 176 00:10:49,800 --> 00:10:54,120 Speaker 2: So it's an appeal this week, but it's also a 177 00:10:54,280 --> 00:10:58,520 Speaker 2: final appeal exactly. So this is his last opportunity, no. 178 00:10:58,679 --> 00:11:02,319 Speaker 1: Other avenues for Julie Assange to appeal any extradition to 179 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:05,120 Speaker 1: the US if this appeal is unsuccessful. 180 00:11:05,240 --> 00:11:08,800 Speaker 2: Okay, So that brings us to this week. Tell me 181 00:11:09,160 --> 00:11:11,800 Speaker 2: about the two days of hearings. What did we learn. 182 00:11:12,280 --> 00:11:16,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, so Julian Assange didn't actually appear at those hearings. 183 00:11:16,440 --> 00:11:18,400 Speaker 1: We heard from his lawyers that it was due to 184 00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:22,760 Speaker 1: poor health. One of his lawyers, his name is Edward Fitzgerald, 185 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:26,360 Speaker 1: told the court that Assange could expect a flagrant denial 186 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:29,040 Speaker 1: of justice if he was forced to face trial in 187 00:11:29,080 --> 00:11:33,040 Speaker 1: the US. We also heard quite a bit from Assange's wife, Stella, 188 00:11:33,200 --> 00:11:37,040 Speaker 1: and we uploaded a video of this to TDA. She 189 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:40,120 Speaker 1: addressed supporters outside court in London and she called the 190 00:11:40,120 --> 00:11:44,600 Speaker 1: prosecution of her husband politically motivated. Of course, that's just 191 00:11:44,640 --> 00:11:47,240 Speaker 1: one side of the coin. On the other side, we 192 00:11:47,280 --> 00:11:50,440 Speaker 1: had lawyers from the US and they were making their 193 00:11:50,480 --> 00:11:53,679 Speaker 1: case for why he needs to be extradided. They said 194 00:11:53,840 --> 00:11:56,839 Speaker 1: that the wikileak's founder should be extradited to face those 195 00:11:56,880 --> 00:12:00,680 Speaker 1: spying charges because by leaking those documents, they claim that 196 00:12:00,720 --> 00:12:04,040 Speaker 1: he put innocent lives at risk. They also said, and 197 00:12:04,080 --> 00:12:07,240 Speaker 1: I quote, Assigne can't be treated as akin to an 198 00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:11,440 Speaker 1: ordinary journalist or WikiLeaks akin to an ordinary publisher. 199 00:12:12,280 --> 00:12:16,920 Speaker 2: And those comments are because throughout the now decade of 200 00:12:16,960 --> 00:12:20,000 Speaker 2: this discussion, we've heard a lot said about the idea 201 00:12:20,080 --> 00:12:23,760 Speaker 2: of freedom of the press the idea that the media 202 00:12:24,080 --> 00:12:27,040 Speaker 2: has a right and the public has a right to 203 00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:30,440 Speaker 2: share information in the public interest, and that's always been 204 00:12:30,640 --> 00:12:33,559 Speaker 2: the defense from Wiki leaks exactly. 205 00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:36,319 Speaker 1: And we've also heard a lot from human rights groups 206 00:12:36,360 --> 00:12:39,240 Speaker 1: who have said the same thing, that this is a 207 00:12:39,280 --> 00:12:42,960 Speaker 1: matter of media freedom, and that by charging Assigne and 208 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:46,240 Speaker 1: treating him this way, that that is a denial of 209 00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:48,240 Speaker 1: the freedoms of the media. 210 00:12:49,120 --> 00:12:53,320 Speaker 2: And another thing that Assandra's lawyers have always maintained is 211 00:12:53,360 --> 00:12:55,959 Speaker 2: that the documents, you know, while the argument from the 212 00:12:56,080 --> 00:12:58,599 Speaker 2: US is that he put lives at risk with the 213 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:01,480 Speaker 2: leaking of these documents, Assannger's teams say that there is 214 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:05,400 Speaker 2: no evidence that any names on that list suffered persecution 215 00:13:05,440 --> 00:13:07,800 Speaker 2: as a result, that there were no deaths resulting from 216 00:13:07,880 --> 00:13:08,840 Speaker 2: the leaked documents. 217 00:13:09,440 --> 00:13:12,600 Speaker 1: Yes, so those were the arguments that were put forward 218 00:13:12,720 --> 00:13:16,120 Speaker 1: in those two days of hearings. But that case is 219 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:19,480 Speaker 1: now wrapped up and we are expecting to hear the 220 00:13:19,520 --> 00:13:23,800 Speaker 1: decisions sometime soon. We don't exactly know when, but as 221 00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:27,960 Speaker 1: you alluded to before, m if the court finds against Assange, 222 00:13:28,040 --> 00:13:30,760 Speaker 1: that's it. He will likely be sent to the US 223 00:13:30,760 --> 00:13:32,000 Speaker 1: to face those charges. 224 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:36,359 Speaker 2: I want to finish up just by talking about Australia's 225 00:13:36,440 --> 00:13:40,440 Speaker 2: role in all of this, the response from the Australian government, 226 00:13:40,480 --> 00:13:46,360 Speaker 2: from political leaders. It's pretty sensational to me that assanje 227 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:50,520 Speaker 2: even is an Australian just because of how international this 228 00:13:50,640 --> 00:13:53,240 Speaker 2: story is and all of the countries that have kind 229 00:13:53,280 --> 00:13:57,440 Speaker 2: of been woven into this story. But he's essentially torn 230 00:13:57,559 --> 00:14:00,280 Speaker 2: between the UK and the US at the moment. So 231 00:14:01,280 --> 00:14:04,800 Speaker 2: what has the Australian government done about this? 232 00:14:05,440 --> 00:14:10,400 Speaker 1: Yes, so last week Australian MPs actually passed Emotion. They 233 00:14:10,440 --> 00:14:13,360 Speaker 1: called on the US and UK officials to drop the 234 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:17,640 Speaker 1: legal case against Assange and to allow him to return home. 235 00:14:18,320 --> 00:14:21,880 Speaker 1: There was some criticism of that motion, which Shadow Minister 236 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:25,600 Speaker 1: Dan Tien said was criticizing the US and he was 237 00:14:25,640 --> 00:14:29,840 Speaker 1: concerned that this motion sounded like Australia was condemning the 238 00:14:29,920 --> 00:14:33,080 Speaker 1: US for prosecuting Assange in the first place. Just a 239 00:14:33,120 --> 00:14:36,880 Speaker 1: quick note about what emotion actually means. It won't impact 240 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:39,600 Speaker 1: the outcome of the UK High Court's decision, but I 241 00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:42,120 Speaker 1: do think it's a symbolic measure that makes clear the 242 00:14:42,160 --> 00:14:46,920 Speaker 1: Australian government's position on the matter. At a senior leadership level. 243 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:50,800 Speaker 1: PM Anthony Albernizi has spoken to US President Joe Biden 244 00:14:50,920 --> 00:14:54,200 Speaker 1: about Assange. That definitely happened last year. That was on 245 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:58,040 Speaker 1: the record, But based on the court hearings this week, 246 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:00,840 Speaker 1: I think it's fair to say that doesn't look like 247 00:15:00,920 --> 00:15:03,200 Speaker 1: the US is going to plan to drop those charges 248 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:06,880 Speaker 1: anytime soon. And I'm sure Assunge and his team are 249 00:15:06,920 --> 00:15:09,560 Speaker 1: eagerly awaiting that UK High Court decision. 250 00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:12,720 Speaker 2: It has felt like we were on the precipice of 251 00:15:12,760 --> 00:15:15,640 Speaker 2: a really big development in this story for a long time. 252 00:15:16,160 --> 00:15:19,720 Speaker 2: You mentioned Albinizi visiting the White House last year. Even 253 00:15:19,760 --> 00:15:22,640 Speaker 2: before that, there was a group of Australian politicians who 254 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:26,800 Speaker 2: traveled to Washington for talks about Assage from all sides 255 00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:28,200 Speaker 2: of politics. 256 00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:29,960 Speaker 1: And that one was interesting because it showed that it 257 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:33,000 Speaker 1: wasn't a political thing. You know, there were liberal, labor, Greens, 258 00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:34,320 Speaker 1: there was kind of everyone there. 259 00:15:34,760 --> 00:15:37,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, exactly. But you know, here we are still waiting. 260 00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:40,720 Speaker 2: These hearings have wrapped up. The UK High Court has 261 00:15:40,760 --> 00:15:43,560 Speaker 2: not given an indication of when it will hand down 262 00:15:43,680 --> 00:15:46,320 Speaker 2: a verdict, but you can be sure that we will 263 00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:49,080 Speaker 2: be chatting about it when we get that news on 264 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:51,640 Speaker 2: the Daily Ols podcast. But Zara, thank you. So much 265 00:15:51,680 --> 00:15:54,640 Speaker 2: for breaking that down for us today. A really complicated one, 266 00:15:54,720 --> 00:15:57,440 Speaker 2: but I'm sure it's helped bring a few of us 267 00:15:57,520 --> 00:16:00,480 Speaker 2: up to speed. It certainly helped me out. Thank you 268 00:16:00,560 --> 00:16:02,840 Speaker 2: so much for joining us on the Daily ODZ today. 269 00:16:03,120 --> 00:16:06,360 Speaker 2: If you learned something from today's episode like me, don't 270 00:16:06,400 --> 00:16:09,480 Speaker 2: forget to hit follow. So there's a TDA episode waiting 271 00:16:09,520 --> 00:16:12,160 Speaker 2: for you every morning. What a way to start the day. 272 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:16,160 Speaker 2: We will be back again on Monday, but until then, 273 00:16:16,440 --> 00:16:17,640 Speaker 2: have a great weekend. 274 00:16:20,200 --> 00:16:22,520 Speaker 1: My name is Lily Maddon and I'm a proud Arunda 275 00:16:22,760 --> 00:16:27,560 Speaker 1: Bungelung Calcoton woman from Gadighl Country. The Daily oz acknowledges 276 00:16:27,600 --> 00:16:29,760 Speaker 1: that this podcast is recorded on the lands of the 277 00:16:29,800 --> 00:16:33,360 Speaker 1: Gadighl people and pays respect to all Aboriginal and Torres 278 00:16:33,360 --> 00:16:36,280 Speaker 1: Strait Island and nations. We pay our respects to the 279 00:16:36,320 --> 00:16:39,080 Speaker 1: first peoples of these countries, both past and present.