David McBride leaves prison on parole after being jailed for leaking Afghanistan war documents

David McBride, the former army lawyer convicted for leaking secret defense documents related to the Afghanistan war, has been released from prison in Canberra on parole. McBride served 27 months of a potential five-year and eight-month sentence after pleading guilty to charges including stealing commonwealth information and passing it to journalists.

“

Mr McBride’s parole was considered and granted.

The ACT Supreme Court upheld a government intervention to withhold key evidence, which the government argued could jeopardize national security. The leaked material formed the basis of "The Afghan Files," an investigative series by the ABC that exposed alleged war crimes by Australian defense personnel.

Attorney-General Michelle Rowland approved McBride's release. A spokesperson for Rowland confirmed the parole grant, stating the government does not comment on individual parole matters. McBride expressed gratitude to Rowland for avoiding a lengthy parole battle, suggesting a shared desire for a better Australia.

“

After all we both want the same thing, a better Australia for our children, so it seems a waste to be fighting each other, rather than working together

In a statement, McBride also disclosed his diagnosis with early-stage lung cancer, for which he is expected to undergo surgery soon. He thanked his family, prison staff, and fellow inmates, and conveyed a message of hope, stating, "Many thanked me for allowing them to believe in this country again, in turn, I thank them for showing me there are so many good people in the world worth fighting for."

“

Many thanked me for allowing them to believe in this country again, in turn, I thank them for showing me there are so many good people in the world worth fighting for

Former independent senator Rex Patrick lauded McBride's actions, calling him a whistleblower who served Australians. Gabriel Shipton, founder of the Information Rights Project, praised the government's decision, drawing a parallel to assistance provided to Julian Assange and stating that freeing a whistleblower would not go unnoticed.

“

David served Australians, both in the Army and in his brave act of blowing the whistle on war crimes that took place in Afghanistan. It’s so good to see the end of an awful saga that should never have happened.