Assange family barred from taking book about WikiLeaks founder into Australia’s parliament

Julian Assange’s father, John Shipton (left), and brother Gabriel were told by Parliament House security they could not take in a book on the WikiLeaks founder’s case. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

Security staff at Parliament House in Canberra seized copies of a book about Julian Assange from his family members as they entered the building to meet MPs on Thursday, deeming it “protest material”.

Assange’s family and supporters visited parliament on Thursday to urge the Albanese government to intervene in the proposed extradition of the WikiLeaks founder from the UK to the United States.