In brief
David McBride, an ex-Australian Defence Forces legal officer, was sentenced to five years and eight months for leaking top‑secret documents related to the Afghanistan war. After 27 months in prison, he was granted parole and will continue the rest of his sentence under community supervision. The release follows his diagnosis of treatable lung cancer and a planned surgery. McBride’s leaks sparked an inquiry that uncovered evidence of unlawful killings by Australian forces, leading to charges against former soldiers.
David McBride, an ex-Australian Defence Forces lawyer, was jailed for leaking top‑secret documents that exposed alleged war crimes during the Afghanistan conflict.
In 2024 he was sentenced to five years and eight months after pleading guilty to stealing military secrets and handing them to the media.
McBride’s disclosures formed the backbone of the 2017 Afghan Files series, which revealed a pattern of unlawful killings by Australian special forces. A 2020 inquiry found 39 somethings killed, prompting the Office of the Special Investigator to challenge 19 personnel; two former SAS soldiers have been charged and two high‑ranking officers, including Ben Roberts‑Smith, face war‑crime charges.
On Thursday a spokesperson for Attorney‑General Michelle Rowland said McBride’s parole had been considered and granted. He will spend the remainder of his sentence under community supervision, with strict conditions imposed by the Court.
The Information Rights Project released a statement praising McBride and noting his work was driven by a sense of duty, not personal vindication.
McBride thanked his family, who never gave up on him, and his supporters both in Australia and abroad for their inspirational messages. He also revealed that he has been diagnosed with treatable lung cancer and will undergo surgery to remove a part of his lung.
His lawyer, Edwina Lloyd, described the parole decision as “the right one”, noting McBride’s life has been defined by service to Australia, both as a legal officer and as a person who finally served for his crimes.
