Whistleblower David McBride is granted parole after leaking military documents

By CAITLIN POWELL - NEWS REPORTER and DOMINIC GIANNINI FOR AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS Published: 01:12, 13 August 2026 | Updated: 01:28, 13 August 2026 Whistleblower David McBride, who leaked classified military documents containing allegations of Australian soldiers' involvement in war crimes in Afghanistan, will be released from jail on parole.  The former military lawyer pleaded guilty to leaking classified documents that alleged war crimes had taken place.  He was sentenced to prison on three charges in the ACT Supreme Court in 2024.  On Thursday, Attorney-General Michelle Rowland confirmed his parole had been granted. A spokesperson for Rowland told ABC News McBride's 'parole was considered and granted'. 'The government does not provide specific commentary or details about individual parole matters,' they said. McBride's lawyer Edwina Lloyd issued a statement confirming the parole grant. 'David's life has been defined by service to Australia - first as an ADF legal officer and then through 27 months in custody, separated from his family and his freedom, which he endured with dignity and at immense personal cost,' she said. David McBride, who leaked classified military documents containing allegations of Australian soldiers' involvement in war crimes in Afghanistan, will be released from jail on parole  The former military lawyer's actions were a 'gross breach of trust' of his position as a lawyer, Justice Mossop told the court during his 2024 sentencing (McBride is pictured in Afghanistan) 'Whatever conclusions the courts reached about the role of the public interest in his case, the hundreds of letters and postcards David received in jail, together with the sustained media attention, leave no doubt that his case matters deeply to the Australian public. 'David can now hold his head high as he is reunited with his family, friends and beloved dog, Jake, knowing that his stand for accountability has strengthened our democracy.' Following the news that his parole had been granted, charity The Information Rights Project confirmed McBride had walked out of prison on Thursday morning. The former lawyer issued a statement via the organisation thanking his family and Australians for their support. He said he was grateful to staff at ACT Corrective Services, his fellow prisoners at the Alexander Maconochie Centre. 'Many of them I hope to see again, and help if I can, as they helped me,' he said. He also shared that he has lung cancer, which will demand a lengthy recovery. 'While I am fit and well in most respects, I feel I should inform those who may be interested that I have been diagnosed with treatable lung cancer, in its earliest stages, and will presently undergo an operation to remove part of my lung, after which I will require some extended physical recovery,' he said. McBride (pictured) said he has been diagnosed with a treatable lung cancer while in prison 'In this, I'm very grateful to the relevant medical and corrective staff who discovered the cancer at such an early stage.' McBride took 235 documents - 207 of which were classified as secret - by printing copies at different defence facilities and taking them out in his backpack. The classification indicates disclosure of the contents could seriously damage the national interest or people, including the loss of life. The leaked documents led to reports about Australian special forces soldiers committing alleged war crimes. An inquiry later found credible information about 23 incidents of potential war crimes, which involved the killing of 39 Afghans between 2005 and 2016. During his sentencing in 2024, Justice David Mossop said McBride's actions were a 'gross breach of trust' of his position as a lawyer. He said the penalty must deter similar actions by others in the future but also took into account McBride's potential mental deterioration from a prison sentence. He accepted McBride was of good character following numerous character references and a report by a clinical psychologist outlining his morality and sense of justice. McBride believed soldiers were being unduly investigated for murder over actions that did not reach that threshold, and the probes were brought about by political interference to show the public the Defence Force was taking the incidents seriously. Justice Mossop found he did not act for financial gain or to help any adversaries. But he did not accept McBride's assertion he thought he was not committing a criminal offence, as he believed he would ultimately be vindicated by a court for acting in the public interest. The justice sentenced McBride to an aggregated five years and eight months in prison for three charges, with a non-parole period of 27 months.