Canberra reacts to US classified documents by Wikileaks

Doorstop on leaking of US classified documents by Wikileaks
Parliament House, Canberra
ROBERT MCCLELLAND: Obviously the leaking of this substantial amount of information is a real concern to Australia. Every indication is that some of the documentation could relate to national security classified documentation; we are waiting to assess the full extent of that. We have had some discussions across ministers, of course, with various United States officials, including the United States Ambassador, who's been very helpful and cooperative.
It is a matter that is taken with the utmost seriousness by the government of the United States and certainly the government of Australia and obviously governments around the world.
The release of this information could prejudice the safety of people referred to in the documentation and indeed, could be damaging to the national security interests of the United States and its allies, including Australia. So obviously Australia will support any law enforcement action that may be taken. The United States will be the lead government in that respect, but certainly Australian agencies will assist and we will look at - of course, I'd ask the Australian Federal Police to look at the issue as to whether any Australian laws have been breached as a specific issue as well.
So, these are serious matters; and we have formed a whole-of-government taskforce to look at the issues. There had previously been a specific Defence taskforce looking at a Defence documentation, but obviously, the documentations in so far, it suggested, could relate to issues broader than simply Defence strategy.
There has been established a whole-of-government taskforce to look at those issues and to obviously go through each and every incident to see what impact it may have and what action should appropriately be taken to firstly reduce any impact - adverse impact, but certainly to see what can be done to rectify the situation.
I'm very happy to take some questions.
JOURNALIST: Has the US Embassy given you access to all the cables that will be published on the site, so that you know what's coming?
ROBERT MCCLELLAND: I've had a discussion with the United States Ambassador; I personally haven't been provided with any of the documentation. I didn't request copies. I'm not sure whether any of the other ministers potentially impacted or whose areas are potentially impacted have been provided with those documents.
JOURNALIST: The US has apologised in advanced to a lot of countries ahead of the release of these documents, saying, well, we're sorry in advance of what's going to be in these documents. Has Australia had any apology from the United States ahead of the release of these documents?
ROBERT MCCLELLAND: None - no apology was sought; we mutually regretted that these events had occurred. No formal apology was sought and I wouldn't expect in that formal sense, given the closeness of our relationship, that one would be offered in those context.
It's been more in the context of working in partnership to address any fallout. But certainly, every cooperation has been provided; we were given a forewarning of these events during the course of last week. So every assistance has been provided.
JOURNALIST: What is actually in process at the moment? Is it - do we have a team going through all the documents that are available so far?
ROBERT MCCLELLAND: We're looking at all documents that are available. The various agencies are looking at documents that are specific to themselves. And they in turn, the agencies will come together with our taskforce to both relate the information that has been contained in the documents and look at any remedial action that will be taken.
JOURNALIST: And just to clarify, are you getting access to documents that are not on the website from anyone else?
ROBERT MCCLELLAND: Well, again - we have been forewarned. The documentation that is being placed on the website, as I understand it, is being put up in stages, if you like. So we have been given access to certain documentation; the extent to which that may or may not be put on the website is something that remains to be seen.
JOURNALIST: Attorney, does this make Julian Assange the most wanted man in Australia?
ROBERT MCCLELLAND: Well, again, certainly from Australia's point of view, we think there are potentially a number of criminal laws that could have been breached by the release of this information. The Australian Federal Police are looking at that. But clearly, I don't want to pre-empt the outcome of that advice.
JOURNALIST: If Mr Assange was to land in Australia today, what would happen to him?
ROBERT MCCLELLAND: Oh, look, it's not customary to talk about law enforcement actions that would be taken, but certainly, if I can again confirm that the United States authorities are looking at law enforcement action as the lead country; and we're providing every assistance and could be, in fact, [indistinct] to provide every assistance…
JOURNALIST: Is Australia considering cancelling his passport and restricting his movements?
ROBERT MCCLELLAND: We’re waiting for advice from the agencies as to appropriate course of actions that may be taken in response.
JOURNALIST: Has the US asked you to consider restricting his movements and cancel his passport?
ROBERT MCCLELLAND: I've received no such request. I'm not aware of communications that may have taken place between the Federal Police or any of our national security agencies.
JOURNALIST: Attorney, just one last question.
ROBERT MCCLELLAND: Yeah, sure.
JOURNALIST: You say you don't know the specifics of what's in the documents, but are you aware of any of the issues that they may touch upon, for instance, Australia's support for the war in Iraq?
ROBERT MCCLELLAND: I'm aware of the nature of documents, concerning my portfolio. Obviously, I have certain responsibilities in respect to domestic national security considerations, but clearly, I won't obviously telegraph what those documents may be. But certainly, the release of those documents, on our assessment, could be prejudicial to Australia's national security interests.
JOURNALIST: There's been some reporting about Australians going missing in the Middle East and turning up on - being put on terrorism watch lists, is that one of the documents that you're expecting?
ROBERT MCCLELLAND: I won't go into the specifics, but [indistinct] the national security white paper certainly identifies concerns about Australians training overseas, and not particularly in Afghanistan, but also on the Arabian Peninsula. And those concerns have been voiced by the Australian Government; that's probably as specific as I'll get on that.
JOURNALIST: What sort of criminal charges might be considered in the broader sense? What's the broad area?
ROBERT MCCLELLAND: Well, again, they relate to giving away national security information or publicising national security-sensitive information and documentation, but also potentially offences relating to places and the source of documentation as well.
Thank you.
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