Assange Senate bid his ticket out

Julian Assange gave an address from the Ecuadorian Embassy last August. The WikiLeaks founder is hopeful of being elected to the Australian Senate. Source: AFP

JULIAN Assange is banking on being elected to the Australian Senate as his ticket to political freedom, saying he is sure his new WikiLeaks Party will "easily" attract the numbers to launch ahead of the federal election.

In an in-depth interview to be published on website The Conversation this morning, Assange said he was counting on public support from Australians to help catapult him into the Senate and out of Ecuador's embassy in London, where he has been holed up since June to avoid extradition to Sweden over allegations of sex crimes.

According to the article Assange, who last week applied to be on Victoria's electoral roll in order to qualify for political office, will field WikiLeaks Party candidates for the Senate in several states, most likely including himself as a candidate in Victoria.

If he were elected, Assange said, the US Department of Justice would back down from its espionage investigation in order to avoid sparking an international incident, with the British government following suit.

Swedish authorities' case against him is "falling apart'', he says.

Under Australian federal law he would then have to take up his Senate seat within two months, which would require his freedom.

"In that case, the Senate could vote to evict me, but that would trigger a big political row,'' he is quoted as saying.

"Australians probably wouldn't swallow it. They've learned a lesson from the controversial dismissal of Gough Whitlam.''

Assange said if not immediately freed after his election, he could take his oath before the Governor-General "for the first time ever, by video link''.

He said he was "sure'' his WikiLeaks Party would "easily" attract the minimum 500 paid-up members required by federal law to launch, and says any technical objections to him standing for office "aren't real''.

"I've had to deal with the FBI, the British press and more than a few rank functionaries,'' he is quoted as saying.

"The Australian press are decent by comparison. No doubt the Australian Tax Office will show an interest in our campaign. Old enemies may make an appearance.''

Describing Assange as "calm, witty, clear headed'', the article reveals the former hacker's fondness for Rachmaninov, Tim Tams, Violet Crumbles and South Australian shiraz, and says he is taking boxing lessons several times a week with "an ex SAS whistleblower'' to help relieve the "visual monotony'' of life in prison.

When asked how allegations of his misogyny might affect his political campaign, Assange said his new party would be popular with women.

"I'm not interested in softening my image by planting attractive women around me,'' he said.

"I like women. They're on balance braver than men. ... Our WikiLeaks Party will attract the support of many women.''

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