Julian Assange is one of us. An ordinary Australian who stood up against extraordinary injustice. He risked everything to tell the truth: about war, about corruption, about the abuse of power. And he paid the price with his freedom.

But Julian never gave up. For over a decade and a half locked up and in maximum-security prison, he endured isolation, attacks on his health, and separation from his family. And still, he held on: for truth, for accountability, for all of us. That is the spirit Australians admire: courage in the face of impossible odds.

Now, after his release, we have the chance to honour him properly. To show that Australia stands with those who speak up, not those who stay silent. Making Julian Australian of the Year is more than an award. It’s a declaration of what we value as a nation: fairness, courage, and the unshakable right to free expression.

This is our moment. Let’s make history together. Let’s thank Julian for all of his sacrifice.

Add your name today and call on Australian of the Year Awards to recognise Julian Assange as our Australian of the Year.