Juris peritus
13 August 2026
I will make a more comprehensive speech at a later date, but some thanks are due immediately.
Firstly, I would like to thank my incredible family: Sarah, James and Georgie McBride who never gave up on me, and whose fighting spirit, love and humour inspired me every day.
Second, I'd like to thank all my amazing supporters from around both Australia and the world who sent me such inspirational messages. Many thanked me for allowing them to believe in this country again – in turn I thank them for showing me there are so many good people in the world worth fighting for.
Thirdly, I would like to thank the ACT Corrective Services and their staff, from top to bottom, who treated me with professionalism, respect and humour for my entire time in custody.
I'd also like to thank my fellow prisoners at the AMC. They too showed me humour, respect and character that I will never forget. Many of them I hope to see again, and help if I can, as they helped me.
I also want to acknowledge and thank the Attorney-General, the Honourable Michelle Rowland, for sparing us another long fight over the question of parole. After all, we both want the same thing – a better Australia for our children – so it seems a waste to be fighting each other rather than working together.
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. In this, I'm very grateful to the relevant medical and corrective staff who discovered the cancer at such an early stage.
Finally, unfashionable as it is, I'd like to thank the God of my own understanding, who I believe kept me and my family safe in an uncertain time.
And I'm looking forward to hugging my dog, Jake. Hopefully he will remember me.