TEMPO.CO, Canberra - Whistleblower organization WikiLeaks has been formally registered by the Australian Electoral Commission in time for the federal election where the party plans to contest Senate seats in three Australian states.
The WikiLeaks party received formal registration on Tuesday and was registered under the name of Gail Malone, a member of the party's national council and described as a "peace activist" on their website. The registration lists an address in Fitzroy, Melbourne, as the party's correspondence address.
WikiLeaks party campaign manager Greg Barns said the party would be initially focused on the areas of climate change, refugee policy and taxation. He said these would be key policy issues and there should there be a balance of power following the Senate elections.
He added that the party was drawing closer to announcing who, along with Julian Assange, would contest seats for the party. He said there had been a "very high level" of interest from a number of people with a good record of "contribution to public life" asking to stand for the party.
Julian Assange is currently the only confirmed WikiLeaks party candidate. It is understood he will stand for election in Victoria. Assange remains at the Ecuadorean embassy in London where he is seeking refuge to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning over sexual assault allegations, which he denies.
GUARDIAN | RADIO AUSTRALIA | RUSSIA TODAY | HARUN MAHBUB
