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==Current status==
==Current status==


On the 23rd of March 2013 the WikiLeaks Party submitted its registrations to the Australian Electoral Commission. The party has over 1300 fee paying members.<ref>{{cite web|title=Polls positive for WikiLeaks, as party registers|url=http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/polls-positive-for-wikileaks-as-party-registers-20130422-2iaqu.html|publisher=SMH}}</ref> The application for registration as a political party is currently pending a 30 day advertisement for public objections. <ref>{{cite web|title=REGISTER OF POLITICAL PARTIES|url=http://aec.gov.au/Parties_and_Representatives/party_registration/applications/files/notice-wikileaks-22-may.pdf|publisher=Australian Electoral Commission}}</ref> The Party has announced it will be fielding candidates for the Australia Senate in the states of NSW, Victoria and Western Australia. <ref>{{cite web|title=WikiLeaks expands bid for senate seats - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-04-06/wikileaks-expands-bid-for-senate-seats/4613746|publisher=ABC News}}</ref>
On March 23, 2013 the WikiLeaks Party submitted its registrations to the Australian Electoral Commission. The party has over 1300 fee paying members.<ref>{{cite web|title=Polls positive for WikiLeaks, as party registers|url=http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/polls-positive-for-wikileaks-as-party-registers-20130422-2iaqu.html|publisher=SMH}}</ref> The application for registration as a political party is currently pending a 30 day advertisement for public objections. <ref>{{cite web|title=REGISTER OF POLITICAL PARTIES|url=http://aec.gov.au/Parties_and_Representatives/party_registration/applications/files/notice-wikileaks-22-may.pdf|publisher=Australian Electoral Commission}}</ref> The Party has announced it will be fielding candidates for the Australia Senate in the states of NSW, Victoria and Western Australia. <ref>{{cite web|title=WikiLeaks expands bid for senate seats - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-04-06/wikileaks-expands-bid-for-senate-seats/4613746|publisher=ABC News}}</ref>


The WikiLeaks Party consists of a 11-member [[National Council]].<ref name=NA>{{cite web|title=Wikileaks founder Julian Assange now a step closer to a Senate run|url=http://www.news.com.au/national-news/wikileaks-founder-julian-assange-now-a-step-closer-to-a-senate-run/story-fncynjr2-1226577310265|publisher=news.com.au|accessdate=7 March 2013}}</ref> National Council members include: Julian Assange; John Shipton; Omar Todd; Melbourne mathematician Daniel Mathews; Australian National University physicist Niraj Lal; Maitland lawyer, political activist and former independent candidate Kellie Tranter; Sydney-based digital archivist and freedom of information activist Cassie Findlay; WikiLeaks Australian Citizens Alliance co-conveners Samantha Castro and Kaz Cochrane; Indigenous education consultant and activist Luke Pearson; peace activist Gail Malone. John Shipton is the [[Chief Executive Officer]] of the party.<ref name=NA /><ref>{{cite web|title=Gambit or gamble?|url=http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/gambit-or-gamble-20130525-2n3sr.html|publisher=SMH}}</ref>
The WikiLeaks Party consists of a 11-member [[National Council]].<ref name=NA>{{cite web|title=Wikileaks founder Julian Assange now a step closer to a Senate run|url=http://www.news.com.au/national-news/wikileaks-founder-julian-assange-now-a-step-closer-to-a-senate-run/story-fncynjr2-1226577310265|publisher=news.com.au|accessdate=7 March 2013}}</ref> National Council members include: Julian Assange; John Shipton; Omar Todd; Melbourne mathematician Daniel Mathews; Australian National University physicist Niraj Lal; Maitland lawyer, political activist and former independent candidate Kellie Tranter; Sydney-based digital archivist and freedom of information activist Cassie Findlay; WikiLeaks Australian Citizens Alliance co-conveners Samantha Castro and Kaz Cochrane; Indigenous education consultant and activist Luke Pearson; peace activist Gail Malone. John Shipton is the [[Chief Executive Officer]] of the party.<ref name=NA /><ref>{{cite web|title=Gambit or gamble?|url=http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/gambit-or-gamble-20130525-2n3sr.html|publisher=SMH}}</ref>


The National Council is currently developing policies, choosing candidates and fundraising. <ref>{{cite web|title=Gambit or gamble?|url=http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/gambit-or-gamble-20130525-2n3sr.html|publisher=SMH}}</ref> The party’s first policy is to immediately introduce a national shield law to protect a reporter’s right not to reveal a source. <ref>{{cite web|title=Protect your sources: Australia’s WikiLeaks Party calls for journalism shield law - RT News|url=http://rt.com/news/wikileaks-journalist-protect-law-193/|publisher=RT News}}</ref> Julian Assange is the only candidate to be announced by the party, and will be running for a Senate seat in the state of Victoria. However media have reported that Kellie Tranter is likely to be the WikiLeaks Party's Senate candidate in NSW. <ref>{{cite web|title=Assange Close To Senate Seat|url=http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/assange-takes-step-closer-to-senate-20130225-2f1dw.html|publisher=SMH}}</ref>
The National Council is developing policies, choosing candidates, and fundraising. <ref>{{cite web|title=Gambit or gamble?|url=http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/gambit-or-gamble-20130525-2n3sr.html|publisher=SMH}}</ref> The party’s first policy is to immediately introduce a national shield law to protect a reporter’s right not to reveal a source. <ref>{{cite web|title=Protect your sources: Australia’s WikiLeaks Party calls for journalism shield law - RT News|url=http://rt.com/news/wikileaks-journalist-protect-law-193/|publisher=RT News}}</ref> Julian Assange is the only candidate to be announced by the party, and will be running for a Senate seat in the state of Victoria. However media have reported that Kellie Tranter is likely to be the WikiLeaks Party's Senate candidate in NSW. <ref>{{cite web|title=Assange Close To Senate Seat|url=http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/assange-takes-step-closer-to-senate-20130225-2f1dw.html|publisher=SMH}}</ref>


Julian Assange has stated that the Internet presence of [[WikiLeaks]], which includes a Twitter account with 1.7 million followers and a [[Facebook]] page with over 2.1 million "likes," could be used as tools to mobilize Australian supporters.<ref name=TA />
Julian Assange has stated that the Internet presence of [[WikiLeaks]], which includes a Twitter account with 1.7 million followers and a [[Facebook]] page with over 2.1 million "likes," could be used as tools to mobilize Australian supporters.<ref name=TA />

Revision as of 17:35, 15 June 2013

The WikiLeaks Party is a political party in Australia.[1][2] The party was created in part to support Julian Assange’s bid for a Senate seat in Australia in the 2013 election.[1][2]

History

Julian Assange’s decision to run for the Australian Senate was announced via the WikiLeaks Twitter account in March 2012.[3] The intent to form a WikiLeaks Party was announced by Assange in late 2012,[2][4] and Assange stated that the party would be a vehicle for his candidacy for a seat in the Australian Senate in the 2013 election.[2][5]

In January 2013, Julian Assange stated: “The party will combine a small, centralised leadership with maximum grass roots involvement and support. By relying on decentralised Wikipedia-style, user-generated content structures, it will do without apparatchiks. The party will be incorruptible and ideologically united.”[6]

Current status

On March 23, 2013 the WikiLeaks Party submitted its registrations to the Australian Electoral Commission. The party has over 1300 fee paying members.[7] The application for registration as a political party is currently pending a 30 day advertisement for public objections. [8] The Party has announced it will be fielding candidates for the Australia Senate in the states of NSW, Victoria and Western Australia. [9]

The WikiLeaks Party consists of a 11-member National Council.[10] National Council members include: Julian Assange; John Shipton; Omar Todd; Melbourne mathematician Daniel Mathews; Australian National University physicist Niraj Lal; Maitland lawyer, political activist and former independent candidate Kellie Tranter; Sydney-based digital archivist and freedom of information activist Cassie Findlay; WikiLeaks Australian Citizens Alliance co-conveners Samantha Castro and Kaz Cochrane; Indigenous education consultant and activist Luke Pearson; peace activist Gail Malone. John Shipton is the Chief Executive Officer of the party.[10][11]

The National Council is developing policies, choosing candidates, and fundraising. [12] The party’s first policy is to immediately introduce a national shield law to protect a reporter’s right not to reveal a source. [13] Julian Assange is the only candidate to be announced by the party, and will be running for a Senate seat in the state of Victoria. However media have reported that Kellie Tranter is likely to be the WikiLeaks Party's Senate candidate in NSW. [14]

Julian Assange has stated that the Internet presence of WikiLeaks, which includes a Twitter account with 1.7 million followers and a Facebook page with over 2.1 million "likes," could be used as tools to mobilize Australian supporters.[4]

Christina Milne, leader of the Australian Greens, was positive about the emergence of the Wikileaks Party as part of a move away from Australia's two-party system. However, the Greens have no intention of stepping aside for Assange in the Victoria Senate election.[15] Similarly, the Socialist Equality Party reaffirmed its intention to defend Assange against perscution but refused to endorse the Wikileaks Party, stating that this position represents the "interests of the working class".[16]

Julian Assange

Main article: Julian Assange

Assange is a native of Australia.[2] Since July 2012 Assange has lived in the Embassy of Ecuador, London, having been granted political asylum by Ecuador.[17][18] Assange is unable to leave the Embassy without being arrested by the Police Forces of the United Kingdom, acting on an extradition order placed on him to travel to Sweden to answer questions regarding sexual misconduct allegations.[17][18] Assange has been fighting the extradition order in the UK Court system since December 2010.[17][18] Assange has stated that if he is not immediately freed after his election, he would take his oath of office "for the first time ever, by video link."[19] If he were elected, but unable to return to Australia to take up his position, Assange has said that a nominee would occupy his seat.[5][10]

Nominations are expected to close in August 2013, and the Australian election is expected to be held on September 14, 2013. If elected, Assange’s six-year term would start in July 2014.[20]

Party platform

John Shipton has stated that "The party stands for what Julian espouses—transparency and accountability in government and of course human rights."[10] Assange himself has said the WikiLeaks Party will combine “a small, centralised leadership with maximum grassroots involvement,” and that the party will advance WikiLeaks' objectives of promoting openness in government and politics, and that it would combat intrusions on individual privacy.[2][4][17][21]

WikiLeaks Party National Councillor Samantha Castro has said that there are many Australian citizens who are unhappy with the domination of the two main political parties in the country, and that she believes many Australians are looking for more direct ways to participate in democracy.[22]

Assange has been reported as saying that he envisions the WikiLeaks Party as bound together by unswerving commitment to the core principles of civic courage nourished by understanding and truthfulness and the free flow of information, and one that will practise in politics what WikiLeaks has done in the field of information.[6] The Constitution of the WikiLeaks Party lists objectives, including: the protection of human rights and freedoms; transparency of governmental and corporate action, policy and information; recognition of the need for equality between generations; and support of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander self-determination.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b "WikiLeaks Party to be Set Up (video)". Yahoo! 7 News. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Khazan, Olga. "Julian Assange wants to start a WikiLeaks party and run for office". The Washington Post. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  3. ^ "Julian Assange to run for Senate". ABC News. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  4. ^ a b c Dorling, Philip. "Assange looks to contest Senate election". The Age National Times. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  5. ^ a b "Assange to run for Australian Senate, start Wikileaks party". rt.com. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  6. ^ a b c Keane, John. "Lunch and dinner with Julian Assange, in prison". The Conversation. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  7. ^ "Polls positive for WikiLeaks, as party registers". SMH.
  8. ^ "REGISTER OF POLITICAL PARTIES" (PDF). Australian Electoral Commission.
  9. ^ "WikiLeaks expands bid for senate seats - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)". ABC News.
  10. ^ a b c d "Wikileaks founder Julian Assange now a step closer to a Senate run". news.com.au. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  11. ^ "Gambit or gamble?". SMH.
  12. ^ "Gambit or gamble?". SMH.
  13. ^ "Protect your sources: Australia's WikiLeaks Party calls for journalism shield law - RT News". RT News.
  14. ^ "Assange Close To Senate Seat". SMH.
  15. ^ AAP. "Greens leader welcomes Wikileaks Party". Yahoo! 7 News. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
  16. ^ O'Connor, Patrick. "Why the SEP does not endorse the Wikileaks Party". World Socialist Web Site. International Committee of the Fourth International. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
  17. ^ a b c d Creagh, Sunanda. "'WikiLeaks Party will attract the support of many women': Assange". The Conversation. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  18. ^ a b c "WikiLeaks founder seeks asylum at Ecuador embassy". boston.com. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  19. ^ Starke, Petra. "WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange hopes bid for Senate seat will result in freedom". The Australian News. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  20. ^ "Julian Assange: Women Are 'Braver Than Men'". Ther Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  21. ^ "WikiLeaks Party will attract female voters: Assange". World News Australia. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  22. ^ Robles, John. "'Our government refused to listen to us' - WikiLeaks' co-founder Castro". The Voice of Russia. Retrieved 7 March 2013.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=WikiLeaks_Party&oldid=560046164"