comment, opinion

A SECRET US government communication in 2009 stated: "Julia Gillard recognises that, to become prime minister, she must show her support for the alliance with the United States." After Julian Assange revealed US war crimes and US politicians called for his assassination, Gillard branded Assange an anarchistic criminal. Having broken no Australian law, the Gillard government created new legislation allowing Australians to be prosecuted here under US law. A new US military base was announced in 2011. Classified documents revealed Bob Carr as a US informant. Carr said the government would make no representation for Assange because it "doesn't affect Australian interests". Meanwhile, six Australians accused of murder in Peru receive "very high level" representation. The Gillard government refused motions to protect Assange, ignored questions and obstructed freedom-of-information requests. Now Kevin Rudd says he will dismantle endemic corruption within NSW Labor, which reportedly anointed Gillard, and, from classified documents, appears to have operated as a "cell" for US infiltration into Australian politics for decades. In 2010, Rudd pledged "with Australians in strife anywhere in the world, our responsibility is to ensure the consular rights and legal rights of all Australians abroad are protected. And that includes Mr Assange". Will this Australian government now protect this Australian from persecution for embarrassing the US government, or continue its embarrassing servility?