Is he still in the Ecuadorian embassy? I've not really heard what hes doing or where he is recently.
Julian Assange to run for Australian Senate
11–20 of 119 posts
Re: Julian Assange to run for Australian Senate
#12If for anything, I hope he wins so he can go back outside, and live a decent life.
There's no guarantee that winning a senate seat would allow him to exit the UK. That said it would add considerable political pressure...
Re: Julian Assange to run for Australian Senate
#13Assange announced this in early 2012, then again late in 2012 and then again today to co-incide with the announcement of Australia's September 14 election.
So yes, by all means, let's give the same piece of news coverage for a a THIRD TIME. There's VALUE in that aggregation.
Re: Julian Assange to run for Australian Senate
#14Nice idea. Become a Senator and try for diplomatic immunity. Walk out of the Ecuadorian Embassy and wave goodbye to the police who have been waiting for him for the last umpteen months.
The legal wrangling could become quite complicated if he succeeded. If the voters in Oz realise how annoyed the UK government would be if he did this then that would help his odds even more.
For US residents I'll point out that Senate spots in Australia are won using a state based proportional system with multiple Senators for each of our 6 states and 2 territories. This means that independent and minority groups can often get 1 or 2 Senators into the upper house.
Re: Julian Assange to run for Australian Senate
#15Don't Australia have extradition treaty agreements with the U.S.?
I imagine it's probably a bit tricky to extradite a sitting member of the federal Parliament...
Extradite, waterboard, soletary confinement, sleep deprivation... The only positive thing is it would set a nice precedent for corrupt Parliament members.
Re: Julian Assange to run for Australian Senate
#16So far as I can make out ... he can't stand.
Australian Constitution, s16: "The qualification of a senator shall be the same as those of a member of the House of Representatives."
s34(i): "... must be an elector entitled to vote at the election of members of the House of Representatives, or a person qualified to become such an elector ..."
Australians are allowed to be overseas electors only if they intend to return to Australia within 6 years.
I don't think a court could reasonably conclude that Assange's intention to return would be a serious intention, given that he is going to be under an effectively indefinite house arrest.
Even if he did get elected, he would eventually be evicted for failing to attend sittings.
(Of course, I am not a lawyer or an electoral commissioner).
Re: Julian Assange to run for Australian Senate
#17Nice idea. Become a Senator and try for diplomatic immunity. Walk out of the Ecuadorian Embassy and wave goodbye to the police who have been waiting for him for the last umpteen months. The legal wrangling could become quite complicated if he succeeded. If the voters in Oz realise how annoyed the UK government would be if he did this then that would help his odds even more. For US residents I'll point out that Senate…
> Become a Senator and try for diplomatic immunity.
Being a Senator doesn't give you automatic immunity. Immunity is a privilege extended by the host country to a guest's diplomatic corps. It can be revoked at any time.
Neither of Australia's major parties is particularly fond of Assange and I don't think the UK would feel any compunction in refusing to extend immunity to Assange.
Re: Julian Assange to run for Australian Senate
#18So far as I can make out ... he can't stand. Australian Constitution, s16: "The qualification of a senator shall be the same as those of a member of the House of Representatives." s34(i): "... must be an elector entitled to vote at the election of members of the House of Representatives, or a person qualified to become such an elector ..." Australians are allowed to be overseas electors only if they intend to return…
Going straight to the source, it's actually in the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, section 94, found here:
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/cea1918233...
Re: Julian Assange to run for Australian Senate
#19If for anything, I hope he wins so he can go back outside, and live a decent life.
There's no guarantee that winning a senate seat would allow him to exit the UK. That said it would add considerable political pressure...
Neither major party really thinks much of Assange. There might be some feeble protests but in practice the UK would be in the same position they are now.