Whistleblower David McBride has been granted parole and released from jail, having served 27 months for leaking classified military documents that detailed allegations of war crimes by Australian soldiers in Afghanistan.
McBride, a former military lawyer, pleaded guilty in the ACT Supreme Court in 2024 to three charges related to the leak. He was sentenced to five years and eight months in prison, with a non-parole period of 27 months.
Attorney-General Michelle Rowland confirmed on Thursday that McBride's parole had been considered and granted. A spokesperson for Rowland stated that the government does not comment on individual parole matters.
McBride's lawyer, Edwina Lloyd, confirmed the parole grant, describing McBride's time in custody as enduring "with dignity and at immense personal cost." She added that the public's response, evidenced by letters and media attention, shows "his case matters deeply to the Australian public." McBride is now reunited with his family and dog, Jake.
McBride confirmed he has been diagnosed with treatable lung cancer, detected in its earliest stages while he was in prison. He is scheduled to undergo surgery and a period of recovery. He expressed gratitude to the medical and corrective staff who discovered the cancer.
He took 235 documents, 207 of which were classified as secret, by printing copies at defense facilities and removing them in his backpack. The classification indicated that disclosure could seriously damage the national interest. The leaked documents prompted reports of alleged war crimes by Australian special forces, leading to an inquiry that found credible information about 23 incidents involving the killing of 39 Afghans between 2005 and 2016.
During sentencing, Justice David Mossop called McBride's actions a "gross breach of trust" but also considered character references and a psychologist's report highlighting McBride's morality and sense of justice. Justice Mossop did not accept McBride's assertion that he believed he was not committing a criminal offense, as he thought he would be vindicated for acting in the public interest. The judge stated the penalty must deter similar future actions.
McBride stated he acted not for financial gain or to aid adversaries, but because he believed soldiers were being unduly investigated for murder over actions that did not meet that threshold, and that probes were influenced by political interference. McBride thanked staff at ACT Corrective Services and fellow prisoners for their support during his incarceration.