VICTORY — DAVID MCBRIDE HAS BEEN RELEASED ON PAROLE. ✊

Yesterday, David McBride was released on parole.

For those of us who stood up, spoke out, signed, shared and demanded justice — this is a moment to acknowledge. This is a massive win.

I launched my petition calling on the Australian Government to Pardon David McBride and Protect Whistleblowers because I believed then, and believe even more strongly now, that Australia must never punish people simply for having the courage to expose wrongdoing in the public interest.

As an Afghan-Australian and a lawyer, this issue has always been deeply personal to me. David exposed allegations concerning Australian Defence Force conduct in Afghanistan at enormous personal cost. Whatever one's politics, the treatment of whistleblowers who expose matters of profound public interest must concern every Australian who values democracy, accountability and the rule of law.

David is free. That is worth celebrating.

But our work does not end here.

Parole is not a pardon. David should never have had to endure imprisonment for bringing matters of such profound public interest into the light.

Our petition called for more than David's freedom. It called for a fundamental commitment to protect whistleblowers, defend press freedom and ensure that those who expose wrongdoing are not treated as the enemy.

I am proud that I added my voice — alongside so many Australians and supporters — to that campaign.

Today, we celebrate David's release.

Tomorrow, we continue the fight for meaningful whistleblower protections and for an Australia where telling the truth in the public interest is not a crime.

David, welcome home. 🇦🇺

This is a victory. And every signature, every voice and every act of solidarity mattered.

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