WikiLeaks awarded at Walkleys

27 Nov 2011, 10:30 pm   -   Source: SBS
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WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange labels Julia Gillard "a cowardly Australian Prime Minister" while accepting the organisation's award for Most Outstanding Contribution to Journalism at the 2011 Walkley Awards.

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Julian Assange has launched a broadside against Prime Minister Julia Gilard while accepting WikiLeaks' award for Most Outstanding Contribution to Journalism at the 2011 Walkleys.

Assange's pre-recorded speech was played at the award ceremony, which was held in Brisbane and later broadcast on SBS ONE.

In the six-minute-plus speech, which was made on behalf of WikiLeaks, he blasted the US and Australian governments for their ongoing “war against the truth”.

“The Gillard government has shown its true colours in relation to how it’s handled US pressure on WikiLeaks,” he said.

“Australian journalists are courageous, the Australian population is supportive, but Julia Gillard is a cowardly Australian Prime Minister.

“As Australians we shall not despair, as long as we can speak out, as long as we can publish, and as long as the Internet remains free, we will continue to fight back, armed with the truth.”

Assange said the work of WikiLeaks had resulted in powerful enemies, but also revealed good friends.

“It has bought out the best in people – courage, loyalty, compassion and strength,” he said.

“And tonight I want to thank you, and The Walkley Foundation, for showing these values as journalists and as Australians and standing by WikiLeaks in our hour of need, not in five years time, but today, when it counts.

“And I want to thank all of those who have continued to stand by us – our sources, our donors, our defenders; people without whom we could do nothing.

“We, journalists, are at our best when we share with activists and lawyers the goal of exposing illegality and wrong-doing; when we help to hold others to account.

“This award is a sign of encouragement to our people, and other people, who labour under difficult conditions in this task.

The annual Walkley Awards honour excellence in journalism and the Most Outstanding Contribution to Journalism, awarded since 1994, recognises commitment and achievement in the Australian media.
 

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What a Joke

Bert - from Bywong, 6 months ago

To call Assange a journalist is a joke so is the committee who gave him the award.

fantastic news

sandra - from Melbourne, 6 months ago

wonderful, an absolute glimmer of light shining through a tangled web of vested interests. Wonderful. Congratulations.

WikiLeaks' Assange awarded at Walkleys

Patti - from Melbourne Victoria, 6 months ago

Hi well done Julian I wish you well you have had the courage of your convicttions, strange how you got this awardvand Sadly Julia Gillard says you cannot return home to Australia, like everthing else with this prime minister she has her priorities all out of whack. You are not the only one she has betrayed . Go well and be safe.

Congratulations

Ron Woomera - from Lismore, 6 months ago

Julian Assange is the Daniel Ellsberg of this century! Go Wikileaks.

Go Julian.

J. Peter Weidl - from Euston NSW, 6 months ago

This guy should run for parliament...

Brave heart

Veronica haines - from Campbelltown, 6 months ago

Well done all the journalists who voted for WikiLeaks. You have restored my faith in the media, which is so badly sabotaged by US sponsored politicians and media owners. Brave award given to a brave man. Live long and prosper Julian. Hopefully some of your courage will rub off on our Prime Minister...if she can ever find her way out of the US presidents.... pocket!!

Real Journalists

Roxane Paczensky - from Hazeldean, 6 months ago

As a supporter of Mr Assange I want to say how proud I am of our Australian Journalists for voting that he be granted this award. It just goes to show how, despite the constraints they may be working under in the various corporate owned media outlets the practice their craft in, they continue to believe in the need for journalists to report the truth. If only they had a main stream media outlet which would enable them to do so instead of the infotainment the masses are currently fed.

Assange for P.M

Peter - from QLD, 6 months ago

He's got what all our Nations leaders have lacked for the past 30 years... truth, and the conviction for real democracy !

What a surprise

The Claw - from Sydney, 6 months ago

How astonishment that a disgusting misogynist like Assange has a problem with a female Prime Minister. No, really, I'm gobsmacked.

Well deserved!!!

Tom H - from Toronto, Canada, 6 months ago

This is an important award and recognizes the heroic importance the contribution to the world you and your organization have made. Congratulations! But award or not, I am a proud supporter of Julian Assange and Wikileaks.

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