Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

As I said, I suspect the 'welcome home' call was to express a hope that Mr Assange could spend time with his family. Obviously this has been a very long process for him, and he has been away from his family for a very long time. What I would also say is that I'm sure that the Prime Minister's expectation is, as I articulate, that national security information is to be protected. I can also assure you that the Prime Minister did not invite him to join the Labor Party in the way that Senator Canavan did, when he said, 'Well, mate, I'm happy for him'—Mr Assange—'to join the National Party.'