Video summary
David McBride expresses profound gratitude to his supporters following his release from prison, acknowledging the incredible work and emotional support they provided while he was incarcerated on the stand. He admits that staying in contact during those difficult times was challenging for him but emphasizes how much their efforts meant to him personally. The positive feedback received at this gathering has been terrific, reinforcing his belief that justice is being served correctly and that history will view them favorably. McBride credits these grassroots supporters with helping him secure the lightest possible sentence and ensuring he receives parole, stating unequivocally that without their dedication, achieving such a favorable outcome would have been nearly impossible.
The emotional weight of his imprisonment was highlighted through personal stories involving his dog, Jakey, who remained in care during David's confinement. McBride recalls a heartbreaking moment when hearing his voice over the phone caused his pet to search frantically for him throughout the facility before eventually settling into life with another greyhound and Sarah McGraw, whom he praises as an amazing caretaker for their other children while they were apart. He jokes about Jakey potentially preferring his current comfortable lifestyle in Germany rather than returning to Canberra, yet admits that receiving videos of the dog living well has alleviated much of his worry. This personal connection underscores how deeply human and caring the environment surrounding him was, even within the confines of a prison setting where guards and fellow inmates reportedly held positive views about his case.
Looking toward the future, McBride feels humbled by global support that extended from Germany to remote locations in Canada and beyond, noting petitions signed in German shopping malls as evidence of widespread solidarity. He believes this collective effort has shifted public opinion significantly, creating a foundation for pushing forward whistleblower reforms now that he is free and no longer fighting solely behind bars. The atmosphere at the event was celebratory, with friends cheering his freedom and urging him to enjoy a drink after surviving another year in custody. Ultimately, McBride declares himself very happy and grateful, feeling that together they have turned a dark chapter into one of hope and positive change for Australia's legal landscape regarding whistleblowers.
Read the full video transcript
[music]
>> Come on, David. YOUR FRIENDS ARE
WAITING.
>> [cheering and applause]
[cheering]
[laughter]
>> OH, THIS IS WONDERFUL.
>> OKAY.
>> OH, they make such fun
>> I've got a question for you all. I've
saving this up for a while.
Who was HOLDING MY BEER?
>> [laughter]
>> PROBABLY YOU, RAIN. YOU'RE DRUNK.
>> [laughter]
>> I'M DIRTY.
It's very warm now.
Anyway, so I got another one. See if
Laura's got me but um
Yeah, no, thank you. I wanted The main
thing I wanted to say is thank you for
all the incredible [music] support and
work you guys have been doing on the
outside.
Uh it meant such a lot to me. It meant
such a lot. And I didn't I'm sorry I
wasn't very good at staying in contact.
It was pretty It was uh
not
It'll um
you know, it was It was hard having to
be on the stand.
Yeah, but uh I really do appreciate it
and and the the the good feedback we've
got today has been terrific. [music]
You know, I think we are on the right
side of history and um
uh that makes That should make you
happy. You're awesome awesome people.
And um you really
You me so much. You know, I couldn't
can't do without you. [music]
Uh you really would struggle, but with
with your support
it's um
you can do anything. So, uh
thank you for being such great people.
And I'm so good you're all here today.
>> David, when [applause] do you get your
dog back?
>> I don't know when I get Jakey back.
And uh if I have to have the lung
operation, I'm going to be a bit weak
for Jake, but
uh luckily,
as an act of God, he's he's got it
[music] living his best life. I've put
my baby in his
he's got a greyhound girlfriend.
>> [laughter]
>> So, I don't know if he's going to want
to come back to cold old Canberra.
>> [laughter]
>> But anyway, so that was a gift cuz I
That's one thing I really would have
worried about. One time I cried in jail
was when uh
he was on the Zoom call and he could
hear my voice and he was looking for me
around in
everywhere. He was going from room to
room trying to find me.
Oh, it was like, oh.
Uh so, that was heartbreaking, but um
uh
where he's been, they send me videos and
um
uh
and it means I don't have to worry about
him, you know.
>> Yeah.
>> And my wonderful
Sarah McGraw, wherever she is, she
>> She's getting YOU A BEER.
>> [applause]
>> YEAH, UM
UH
SHE LOOKED AFTER THE OTHER my other
children.
They've grown up.
The female children.
And again, I didn't have to worry about
that. And you guys did the rest, so uh
as I've always said, you're family to me
now. [music]
>> Yes.
>> Um better than family and um
yeah, means such a lot. [music] It means
such a lot to me. And um I really am
very, very happy and I'm so grateful for
all the work you've done. [music]
Undoubtedly, the work you've done helped
me get the
the lightest possible sentence and it
helped me get parole, I'm sure. So,
thank you. It really does count. And I
think we're in a very good position now
to start,
uh, you know, pushing whistleblower
reforms
because, um,
you know, the country have kind of
behind us
and, um,
I've done the time and, uh,
uh, we've
>> [music]
>> got it over all a positive image. You
know, even the prison that both prison
guards and prisoners generally sort of
said, [music] "We don't think you were
in there to, you know, you you deserve
to be in here."
Whether they were a guard or a or a
prisoner, and that's a pretty good
indication of, uh,
what the what the majority of
Australians think about this issue.
Uh, saying that, you know, it's one
thing to think it and it's another thing
to get out there in the cold and the
rain and
do got [music] what you guys do. Um, and
so, uh,
I'm so grateful. I'm so so grateful. I I
feel very humbled to have people like
you and Sydney people
um,
and even around the world. I got letters
from Germany and, uh, there were even
people crazy Germans getting people to
sign
>> [laughter]
>> petitions in in German shopping malls,
you know?
And I'd send them, which was pretty
great to get letters from people and
random people in the
Canadian wilderness and you know,
we'd look places up on the map where the
letter had come from and they'd be tiny
tiny
places in Winni- Winnipeg or something,
you know, or
Salt Lake City, uh, lots of, uh, out of
the way places that people sent me
letters and, um,
uh,
it wouldn't happen without you guys at
the at the grassroots.
And, um,
>> We're so proud of you. well, I'm proud
of you.
>> [laughter]
>> Over here now, so thank god. Thank god
you're not You're not another week.
Another year. Uh
you know, I've now survived and [music]
um but yeah, thank you all. I'll go
around and thank you all individually.
>> Have a drink, David. HAVE A DRINK.
>> [applause]
[applause]
[cheering]
>> WOOHOO!