Barrister and former Liberal Party staffer Greg Barns will be national campaign director for Julian Assange and the new WikiLeaks Party to be launched this week.

The new party has also secured support from a prominent Melbourne philanthropist and is actively seeking members to achieve federal registration.

Look out, Senate: Julian Assange is still holed up in Ecuador's embassy in the UK. Credit:AFP

Mr Barns said on Monday he had agreed to be the WikiLeaks Party campaign director following conversations with Mr Assange, who has announced he will run for a Senate seat in Victoria in the September 14 federal election.

''Assange is a serious Senate candidate; this is no stunt,'' Mr Barns said.