David McBride, a former legal officer of the Australian Defence Forces, was jailed for leaking classified documents that revealed how Australian troops operated in Afghanistan.
Sentenced to five years and eight months in 2024, McBride pleaded guilty to stealing top‑secret defence files and passing them to the media. His actions led to a landmark inquiry that alleged Australian soldiers unlawfully killed 39 Afghans during the war, a finding that shocked the Australian public and raised questions about the conduct of special forces.
After serving 27 months, McBride was released on parole on Thursday. A spokesperson for the Attorney‑General confirmed that the parole was granted and that McBride will serve the remainder of his sentence in the community under strict supervision. The decision comes after McBride was diagnosed with treatable lung cancer and is scheduled for surgery to remove part of his lung.
Advocacy group The Information Rights Project publicly supported McBride and praised his family support. He thanked his loved ones for their persistent encouragement and highlighted the messages of solidarity received from supporters worldwide.
McBride’s lawyer, Edwina Lloyd, described the parole decision as “the right one,” noting that his career has been defined by service to Australia.
During his case, prosecutors argued that McBride’s motives were personal revenge and that his handling of the documents jeopardised national security. His defence argued that he shared the information out of honourable intentions and a sense of duty.
Judges acknowledged that while McBride was of good character, the leaking of military secrets constituted a gross breach of trust and he displayed no contrition for his misconduct.
The documents released to the ABC formed the basis of the 2017 “The Afghan Files” series, which detailed the alleged war crimes of Australia’s elite special forces. The 2020 Brereton Report later found credible evidence confirming unlawful deaths and triggered investigations into 19 ADF members, leading to charges against two former Special Air Service soldiers.
Notably, Ben Roberts‑Smith and Oliver Schulz, both former SAS soldiers, face charges for murder. McBride’s parole is seen by some as a step toward greater transparency and accountability for Australian military operations overseas.
