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Transparency and Democracy
Lucinda Garbutt-Young

Whistleblower David McBride walks free from prison

Whistleblower David McBride has been released from prison after serving his non-parole period. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

Whistleblower David McBride has been released from a Canberra prison after his bid for parole was successful. 

His parole was considered and granted on Thursday morning, a spokesperson for attorney-general Michelle Rowland confirmed to AAP. 

"The government does not provide specific commentary or details about individual parole matters," the spokesperson said. 

McBride served his full non-parole period of 27 months.

The former army lawyer was sentenced to a maximum of five years and eight months in jail in May 2024 after he helped steal secret defence documents about the Afghanistan war. He then leaked them to the press. 

He pleaded guilty to three charges after the court upheld a commonwealth intervention to withhold evidence that the government argued had the potential to jeopardise Australia's security. 

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