Australia: Assange Hasn't Broken Our Laws

Julian Assange won't have any criminal charges to answer if he returns to his homeland, Australian police have decided. Despite Prime Minister Julia Gillard's recent description of WikiLeaks' activities as illegal, federal police have announced that neither the group nor its founder have broken any Australian laws with its release of US diplomatic cables, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Gillard has described the release of diplomatic cables as "grossly irresponsible," and said that while the government would investigate whether Assange should be charged in Australia, she doesn't believe the country's laws need to be changed to prosecute him. "Obviously, as an Australian citizen, Mr. Assange is entitled to the consular assistance we provide to Australians citizens around the world when they find themselves in legal circumstances," she said. (More Australia stories.)