'He's served his time': Calls to free David McBride as he becomes eligible for parole
The decision to grant him parole rests with the Commonwealth.
Former military lawyer David McBride is eligible for parole on Thursday, having served more than two years in prison. McBride was convicted in 2024 of stealing and sharing top-secret defence material with journalists. The Attorney-General Michelle Rowland will make the final decision regarding his parole, as she is responsible for parole decisions for federal prisoners.
In 2017, McBride initially shared his story with journalists, fearing that Australian Special Air Service (SAS) soldiers were being wrongly accused and investigated for war crimes. However, his actions led to the revelation of allegations that Australian soldiers were involved in illegal killings, resulting in raids on the ABC's Sydney bureau and McBride's own apartment.
McBride completed two tours of Afghanistan as a lawyer and brought the story to light to expose what he believed was an over-investigation of soldiers in Afghanistan. His release would symbolize goodwill from the government and support the fight for whistleblower protections. Over 2,700 people have signed an email campaign urging the Attorney-General to grant McBride parole.
The decision to release McBride lies with the Commonwealth, as there is no independent parole board in place.
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