LaPaglia blasts Aust govt over Assange

Actor Anthony LaPaglia has lashed out at the Australian government over its lack of support for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

The star of Without A Trace also appears in the upcoming telemovie about Assange's early life, Underground, which has been invited to screen at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival.
Directed by award-winning filmmaker Robert Connolly (Balibo), it will screen on Network Ten later this year.
LaPaglia told AAP he is a fan of Assange, who is holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy in London after obtaining diplomatic asylum to avoid being extradited to Sweden to face sexual assault allegations.
The WikiLeaks founder has said he fears then being extradited to the US to face charges of leaking confidential information.
In Australia to promote his new film, Mental, the US-based LaPaglia said Assange's plight shows how the Australian government does not stand up for citizens embroiled in international incidents.
He said Assange's presumption of innocence was being overlooked.
"I happen to be a fan (of Assange)," LaPaglia told AAP.
"I'm all for free speech and old-school journalism; it's telling it like it is.
"This is others suppressing the truth and suppressing information to the public.
"I am a little dismayed by the (Australian) government's lack of effort here.
"He's an Australian citizen and you are innocent until proven guilty.
"They (the Australian government) have the American cattle prod in their back and are sort of dancing to that tune.
"What happens to the fact you're an Australian citizen?"
LaPaglia said the controversy surrounding Assange in London will add to the appeal of Underground.
"It's amazing the controversy about him is heating up mightily at the moment ... it's perfect timing for the film," he said.
LaPaglia said Australians should shoulder some of the blame for the state of local politics and the attitude of politicians, who forget they are supposed to be working for their electorates and not for themselves.
"We elect them, we pay their everything and yet they represent us so badly sometimes," LaPaglia said.
"Clearly they don't have the constituency at heart when they are making decisions and we have to shoulder the blame as a society for not making them pay for it.
"We need to get rid of them and find people to do the job and that's the solution."

   23 Aug 2012