SPEAKERS
John Jiggens (Bay FM), John Shipton (Julian’s dad), Barnaby Joyce (Deputy Prime Minister), 4PR – Voice of the People.
4PR – Voice of the People
It was not a good week for Julian Assange. The UK High Court overruled the lower court decision that denied the US extradition request and it was reported that Assange suffered a stroke while viewing the High Court decision. Bay FM reporter Dr John Jiggens spoke to Julian Assange’s father, John Shipton, about the High Court decision, Barnaby Joyce’s intervention and the health of his son.
John Shipton (father of Julian Assange)
… his medical condition is part of …. clearly he’s had a stroke. And he’s been given medication to address that metal. So he’s had two other lots of medications for his disposition if you wish to use that word. I don’t like saying illness. I find it fearful for me. Yeah, that’s his current mental and physical condition.
Nils Maelzer’s (UN Special Rapporteur on Torture) analysis and my analysis over the years … repeated to you is that it’s clearly ‘a murder in slow motion‘, and it is committed by the United Kingdom. It’s often done (said?) that the responsibility of the United Kingdom for this ‘slow motion murder‘ is allocated to the United States by saying that the United Kingdom is a proxy. This is not the case.
The United Kingdom is clearly responsible for the actions it’s taken and continues to intensify the imposition of these heinous is the only word I can think of … heinous impositions on Julian Assange, one after the other after the other, reaching peak of intensity just the other day, when Burnett, the Chief Justice, Burnett, Lord Chief Justice Burnett declared in the hearing the two day hearing that the Laurie Love case (British activist previously wanted by the United States for his alleged activities with the hacker collective) would not be precedent; that is, a person not to be extradited, because there has Aspergers and they may commit suicide. That’s not precedent, he said.
And then the ruling came out just the other day, confirming that it’s not precedent, and that Julian be sent to the United States to spend the rest of his days in misery dungeon. This is a responsibility on the shoulders of the English judiciary … but. I’ll say it again, this most vicious hate, the most savage mouth, the most unscrupulous, lies and calumny’s of all emanated from the institutions of the United Kingdom and with the assistance of Sweden and with the participation in the last two years of the United States and the acquiescence the Australian government.
John Jiggens
What did you make of Barnaby Joyce’s intervention?
John Shipton
The deputy prime minister, has shown most admirable courage.
Insane, while ill in a hotel room in Washington, in the belly of the beast, that Julian Assange must be brought home to Australia not sent to the United States not extradited to the United States. And with considerable pride and satisfaction, I (indistinguishable) add to everybody that the Deputy Prime Minister, Barnaby Joyce, while sick with COVID in a hotel room in Washington made the strongest possible statement, that Julian, not be extradited to the United States and sent home to Australia.
If there is a crime that is committed in the United Kingdom, then he’d be tried for that crime in the United Kingdom. Other than that, he comes home to Australia.
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Interview with Barnaby Joyce
4PR – Voice of the People
Could we start by you introducing yourself.
Barnaby Joyce
Oh, Ok … I’m Barnaby Joyce, Member for New England, leader of the Nationals and Deputy Prime Minister.
4PR – Voice of the People
Why have you come out in support of Julian Assange?
Barnaby Joyce
I have consistently supported Assange, I don’t like the man but he does have rights. By the way, I supported David Hicks when he was locked up in Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.
4PR – Voice of the People
But why do you support him?
Barnaby Joyce
I have read widely on the rights of man, Spinoza, Locke, Kant and have formed the opinion that the man deserves a second chance.
4PR – Voice of the People
So what do you find so compelling in the case of Julian Assange?
Barnaby Joyce
I find the non-anglo Spinoza in particular compelling. His defense of democratic governance, freedom of thought and expression, and the subordination of religion to the state is a political masterpiece.
4PR Voice of the People
So when did this philosophical side of your personality emerge?
Barnaby Joyce
At Saint Ignatius’ College, Riverview. Saint Ignatius of Loyola was God’s first soldier. The Yanks do not seem to appreciate that. Certainly the English don’t.
4PR Voice of the People
Is this an Irish thing, your views on the English, I mean?
Barnaby Joyce
Well I am the son of James Joyce … um, not the writer, the farmer. He was a tough old coot but fair.
4PR Voice of the People
Have you got anything to say to Peter Dutton on the return of Assange to Australia?
Barnaby Joyce
Well no, not really Peter is not much of a reader, he’s C of E and an ex copper, the Dutton’s were Scottish squatters so we have little in common really. Also Peter is not particularly up on ‘the rights of man’.
4PR Voice of the People
Is there anything practical that you have in mind that you can do to assist in Assange’s release and return to Australia?
Barnaby Joyce
Not really, I’m banged up with Covid in Washington Hotel room. There is not much I can do really.
4PR Voice of the People
Oh I hope you get well soon.
Barnaby Joyce
I’m double vaxxed and getting a booster shot on Friday and I don’t feel particularly unwell.
4PR Voice of the People
Did you think supporting Julian would get you some good publicity and allow yourself to be distanced from the Libs?
Barnaby Joyce
Well no. I should probably say that I do feel some sympathy for Assange because of my own indiscretions with the ladies. I mean I don’t like his politics or respect him as a man but I am no hypocrite.
4PR Voice of the People
Ok, I think we should leave it there before we hear your last confession (smiling).
Lets go out with a ‘Song for Julian’ by Dermot Dorgan.
Pls Note – Barnaby and 4PR are played by voice actors.
4PR - Voice of the People 