{{Short description|Australian activist (born c. 1944)}} {{for|the physician|John Shipton (surgeon)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}} {{Use Australian English|date=November 2023}} {{Infobox person | name = John Shipton | occupation = Architect | known_for = WikiLeaks Party | partner = Christine Assange (1970) | children = 3, including Julian Assange and Gabriel Shipton }}
'''John Shipton''' (born circa 1944) is an Australian anti-war activist and architect, best known as the biological father of Julian Assange (who was born Julian Hawkins, and later adopted the surname of his stepfather).<ref name="ShiptonGuilliat">{{cite news |last=Guilliatt |first=Richard |date=15 June 2013 |title=For John Shipton, the Wikileaks Party isn't just a political cause |work=The Australian |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/life/weekend-australian-magazine/like-father-like-son/news-story/d1dbd838b9035f495ebb0899a851c3b7 |access-date=16 March 2014}}</ref><ref name=":16">{{Cite news |last=Tremlett |first=Giles |date=2011-07-15 |title=Julian Assange a great dissident, says his father |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/jul/15/julian-assange-father-interview |access-date=2023-10-10 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> He founded the WikiLeaks Party and was involved with the creation of the website WikiLeaks and helped with WikiLeaks for years.<ref name=":16" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Guilliatt |first=Richard |date=15 June 2013 |title=For John Shipton, the Wikileaks Party isn't just a political cause |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/life/weekend-australian-magazine/like-father-like-son/news-story/d1dbd838b9035f495ebb0899a851c3b7}}</ref><ref name=":14">{{Cite web |date=2013-06-03 |title=Senator Assange? |url=https://www.themonthly.com.au/issue/2013/june/1370181600/guy-rundle/how-julian-assange-s-senate-bid-will-change-australian-politic |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=The Monthly |language=en}}</ref> He was criticised for meeting with President Bashar al-Assad during a visit to Syria as part of the WikiLeaks Party.<ref name=":72">{{Cite web |last1=Box |first1=Dan |last2=Owens |first2=Jared |date=3 January 2014 |title=WikiLeaks Party 'risked being used by Syria' |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/foreign-affairs/wikileaks-party-risked-being-used-by-syria/news-story/5027a0f63230387a84891bc10c0dfe18 |website=The Australian}}</ref><ref name=":83">{{Cite web |last=Owens |first=Jared |date=2 January 2014 |title=Abbott blasts WikiLeaks Party for meeting Assad |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/in-depth/wikileaks/abbott-blasts-wikileaks-party-for-meeting-assad/news-story/809bf22e35e7a1d3894a74aba2e3cdd8 |website=The Australian}}</ref>
He campaigns and acts as an ambassador for Assange<ref name=":18">{{Cite web |last=Berlin |first=Pressenza |date=2019-10-15 |title=John Shipton: Assange's father and ambassador in Berlin |url=https://www.pressenza.com/2019/10/john-shipton-assanges-father-and-ambassador-in-berlin/ |access-date=2023-10-14 |website=Pressenza |language=en-US}}</ref> and was featured in the documentary movie ''Ithaka'', produced by his son Gabriel Shipton.<ref name=":03">{{Cite news |date=2022-07-07 |title=Ithaka film review — Julian Assange's story told through the eyes of his family |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/6970fcc1-844d-463c-9d4a-22d59d22f926 |access-date=2023-03-05}}</ref>
== WikiLeaks == {{Main|WikiLeaks}} In 1996, Shipton rejoined Assange's life and had many "dense and lengthy" conversations with Assange during which Assange revealed his plan for WikiLeaks. Assange later registered the WikiLeaks address using Shipton's name.<ref name=":16" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":15">{{Cite news |last1=Leigh |first1=David |last2=Harding |first2=Luke |date=2011-01-30 |title=Julian Assange: the teen hacker who became insurgent in information war |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/jan/30/julian-assange-wikileaks-profile |access-date=2023-10-10 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Shipton helped with WikiLeaks for years.<ref name=":14" />
== WikiLeaks Party == {{Main|WikiLeaks Party}} On 23 April 2013, Shipton submitted registrations for the WikiLeaks Party to the Australian Electoral Commission.<ref>{{cite news |title=Polls positive for Wikileaks, as party registers |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |url=http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/polls-positive-for-Wikileaks-as-party-registers-20130422-2iaqu.html |url-status=live |access-date=24 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130527005622/http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/polls-positive-for-wikileaks-as-party-registers-20130422-2iaqu.html |archive-date=27 May 2013}}</ref><ref name=":14"/> Shipton stated that the party "stands for what Julian espouses — transparency and accountability in government and of course human rights".<ref name="NA">{{cite news |date=13 February 2013 |title=Wikileaks founder Julian Assange now a step closer to a Senate run |publisher=ABC News |url=http://www.news.com.au/national-news/Wikileaks-founder-julian-assange-now-a-step-closer-to-a-senate-run/story-fncynjr2-1226577310265 |url-status=live |access-date=7 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328074736/http://www.news.com.au/national-news/Wikileaks-founder-julian-assange-now-a-step-closer-to-a-senate-run/story-fncynjr2-1226577310265 |archive-date=28 March 2013}}</ref>
=== 2013 voting issues === The party's campaign was thrown into turmoil just weeks before the 2013 election when members objected strongly to the party's voting preferences (see single transferable vote).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-09-12 |title=WikiLeaks: A leaky boat? {{!}} New Politics |url=http://newpolitics.com.au/wikileaks-a-leaky-boat |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160912190956/http://newpolitics.com.au/wikileaks-a-leaky-boat |archive-date=12 September 2016 |access-date=2023-02-08}}</ref> In New South Wales, the far-right Australia First Party was placed above the Greens while in Western Australia the National Party was placed above Greens Senator Scott Ludlam, a strong supporter of WikiLeaks and Assange. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, it was understood that WikiLeaks had "gone into a complex preference deal with micro parties, mainly right-wing, in a bid to get a candidate into the senate". The WikiLeaks Party blamed an unspecified "administrative errors" and announced an independent review would be performed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aston |first=Heath |date=2013-08-18 |title=WikiLeaks attacked for directing preferences to right-wing parties |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/wikileaks-attacked-for-directing-preferences-to-right-wing-parties-20130819-2s5ng.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207181414/http://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/wikileaks-attacked-for-directing-preferences-to-right-wing-parties-20130819-2s5ng.html |archive-date=7 December 2022 |access-date=2023-09-30 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=21 August 2013 |title=The Wikileaks Party Announces Independent Review |url=http://www.wikileaksparty.org.au/the-Wikileaks-party-announces-independent-review/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313214826/https://www.wikileaksparty.org.au/the-wikileaks-party-announces-independent-review/ |archive-date=13 March 2018 |access-date=10 January 2018 |publisher=WikiLeaks Party}}</ref><ref name=":02">{{Cite web |last=Starr |first=Michelle |title=WikiLeaks Party falls apart |url=https://www.cnet.com/home/internet/wikileaks-party-falls-apart/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208064533/https://www.cnet.com/home/internet/wikileaks-party-falls-apart/ |archive-date=8 February 2023 |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=CNET |language=en}}</ref>
According to Assange's running mate Leslie Cannold, a campaign staffer received a telephone call that contradicted the statement by the WikiLeaks Party that the review would be immediate and independent. Instead, the review would be delayed until after the election and would not be independent.<ref name=":02"/><ref name=":42">{{Cite web |last=Hurst |first=Daniel |date=2013-08-21 |title=Julian Assange's WikiLeaks Party running mate quits team |url=https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/julian-assanges-wikileaks-party-running-mate-quits-team-20130821-2sb99.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207153744/http://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/julian-assanges-wikileaks-party-running-mate-quits-team-20130821-2sb99.html |archive-date=7 December 2022 |access-date=2023-09-30 |website=The Age |language=en}}</ref> The review was unable to interview anyone other than Shipton, but took submissions from figures like Greg Barns. The reviewer also had "limited or no access to WLP official transcripts, minutes of National Council meetings and official emails/correspondence" and was unable to verify what he was told. The independent review rejected the claim that the decision was an "administrative error".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Keane |first=Bernard |date=2014-02-07 |title=The 'highly emotional and volatile' world of the WikiLeaks Party |url=https://www.crikey.com.au/2014/02/07/the-highly-emotional-and-volatile-world-of-the-wikileaks-party/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140309135042/http://www.crikey.com.au:80/2014/02/07/the-highly-emotional-and-volatile-world-of-the-wikileaks-party |archive-date=9 March 2014 |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=Crikey |language=en-US}}</ref>
When National Council members complained, CEO John Shipton attempted to work without them and create a new power base.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2013-09-08 |title=Leslie Resignation & Statement of Fact on Candidacy re: The Wikileaks Party - Leslie Cannold |url=http://cannold.com/articles/article/leslie-resignation-statement-of-fact-on-candidacy-re-the-wikileaks-party/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130908212303/http://cannold.com/articles/article/leslie-resignation-statement-of-fact-on-candidacy-re-the-wikileaks-party/ |archive-date=8 September 2013 |access-date=2023-02-08}}</ref><ref name=":02"/><ref name=":42"/> Leslie Cannold, Assange's running mate in Victoria, resigned along with four other members of the National Council and several major volunteers.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":02" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Wolf |first=Asher |date=2013-08-23 |title=The WikiLeaks party could learn about transparency from the Pirate party |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/aug/23/wikileaks-pirate-party |url-status=live |access-date=2023-02-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208064533/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/aug/23/wikileaks-pirate-party |archive-date=8 February 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Cannold said she could not remain a candidate because doing so would implicitly make a statement that the WikiLeaks Party was "a democratically run party that both believes in transparency and accountability, and operates in this way".<ref name=":42" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last1=Hurst |first1=Daniel |last2=Ireland |first2=Judith |last3=Snow |first3=Deborah |date=2013-08-22 |title=WikiLeaks candidate says there was 'no skulduggery' in party schism |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/wikileaks-candidate-says-there-was-no-skulduggery-in-party-schism-20130822-2scru.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026192835/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/wikileaks-candidate-says-there-was-no-skulduggery-in-party-schism-20130822-2scru.html |archive-date=26 October 2021 |access-date=2023-09-30 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref> Julian Assange responded, saying "I’m not sure I’d call it chaos, although of course it [the resignations] is a significant event".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ghazarian |first=Zareh |date=2013-08-22 |title=Is the party over for Julian Assange and WikiLeaks? |url=http://theconversation.com/is-the-party-over-for-julian-assange-and-wikileaks-17354 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606205630/https://theconversation.com/is-the-party-over-for-julian-assange-and-wikileaks-17354 |archive-date=6 June 2023 |access-date=2023-09-30 |website=The Conversation |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":6" /> Alison Broinowski said she talked to John Shipton and decided the decisions were a mistake and that "no skulduggery was in evidence".<ref name=":6" /> Shipton termed the National Council "raving fucking lunatics" and threatened legal action.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Keane |first=John |date=2013-10-28 |title=Wikileaks: A Few Secrets |url=http://theconversation.com/wikileaks-a-few-secrets-19356 |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=The Conversation |language=en}}</ref>
After the 2013, Shipton started a national tour to assess interest in continuing the party.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Julian Assange's WikiLeaks Party to fight another day |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/poor-election-showing-to-be-addressed/news-story/0b2e5e92ec03eb2a2e6d82b75f2a1ba9 |url-access=limited |archive-url=https://archive.today/20231109110610/https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/poor-election-showing-to-be-addressed/news-story/0b2e5e92ec03eb2a2e6d82b75f2a1ba9?amp&nk=f9284079fc956dd43ceef9e5582826ef-1699527980 |archive-date=November 9, 2023 |website=The Australian}}</ref>
=== Syria visits === In December 2013, a delegation from the WikiLeaks Party, including its chairman John Shipton, visited Syria and met with President Bashar al-Assad with the goals of demonstrating "solidarity with the Syrian people and their nation" and improving the party's understanding of the country's civil war. The visit was criticised by both major parties of Australian politics and considered a "propaganda coup" for the Syrian regime.<ref name=":72"/><ref name=":83"/> In a statement issued shortly before the visit, the WikiLeaks Party stated that it opposed outside intervention in the war, endorsed a negotiated peace process and described reports of the Ghouta chemical attack by forces loyal to al-Assad in August 2013 as being "unsubstantiated" and comparable to the concerns over the Iraqi weapons of mass destruction program prior to the Iraq War.<ref>{{cite news |date=31 December 2013 |title=Wikileaks under fire after delegation travels to Syria to meet Bashar al-Assad |publisher=ABC News |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-31/Wikileaks-meets-assad-in-syria/5180036 |url-status=live |access-date=10 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117214453/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-31/wikileaks-meets-assad-in-syria/5180036 |archive-date=17 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=22 December 2013 |title=Notes from Damascus |url=http://www.wikileaksparty.org.au/notes-from-damascus/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402030518/https://www.wikileaksparty.org.au/notes-from-damascus/ |archive-date=2 April 2018 |access-date=10 January 2018 |publisher=WikiLeaks Party}}</ref>
The meeting with Assad was criticized by the Australian Prime Minister, Foreign Minister,<ref name=":83"/><ref name=":10">{{Cite news |date=2013-12-31 |title=Bishop condemns WikiLeaks party meeting with Assad |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-01/julie-bishop-condemns-wikileaks-meeting-with-bashar-al-assad/5180768 |access-date=2023-10-08}}</ref><ref name=":92">{{Cite web |last1=Owens |first1=Jared |last2=Morton |first2=Rick |date=1 January 2014 |title=WikiLeaks activists slammed for Bashar al-Assad meeting |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/foreign-affairs/wikileaks-activists-slammed-for-bashar-alassad-meeting/news-story/23adb60377c3f2e466d6624c9f4d69d2?amp= |website=The Australian}}</ref> Syrian activists<ref name=":112">{{Cite web |last=Mackey |first=Robert |date=2013-12-30 |title=Assange's Father Met Assad in Damascus |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/12/30/assanges-father-met-assad-in-damascus/ |access-date=2023-10-08 |website=The Lede |language=en}}</ref> and WikiLeaks supporters.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rennie |first=Kevin |date=2014-01-08 |title=WikiLeaks Supporters Shocked by Visit With Syria's Assad |url=https://advox.globalvoices.org/2014/01/08/wikileaks-supporters-shocked-by-visit-with-syrias-assad/ |access-date=2023-10-08 |website=Global Voices Advox |language=en}}</ref> The visit was also criticised by the Federal Opposition, including independent experts, the Greens and senior members of Labor.<ref name=":83"/><ref name=":10" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=2013-12-31 |title=WikiLeaks under fire over Assad meeting in Syria |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-31/wikileaks-meets-assad-in-syria/5180036 |access-date=2023-10-08}}</ref> Shipton stated that the meeting with al-Assad was "just a matter of good manners" and that the delegation had also met with members of the Syrian opposition.<ref name=":13">{{cite news |last1=McKenny |first1=Leesha |last2=Wroe |first2=David |date=1 January 2014 |title=Wikileaks Party defends its 'cup of tea' with Bashar al-Assad |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/Wikileaks-party-defends-its-cup-of-tea-with-bashar-alassad-20131231-304ne.html |url-status=live |access-date=1 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101020939/http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/wikileaks-party-defends-its-cup-of-tea-with-bashar-alassad-20131231-304ne.html |archive-date=1 January 2014}}</ref> However, these meetings with the opposition have not been verified. Shipton said he was going to sue Tony Abbott and Julie Bishop for criticising the party’s delegation to Syria for $5 million in damages but never sued.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dmytryshchak |first=Goya |date=2014-01-02 |title=Assange's father to start legal action against Tony Abbott, Julie Bishop |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/assanges-father-to-start-legal-action-against-tony-abbott-julie-bishop-20140102-3080z.html |access-date=2023-10-08 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Owens |first=Jared |date=14 March 2014 |title=Julian Assange wants full control of WikiLeaks Party, says party figure |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/julian-assange-wants-full-control-of-wikileaks-party-says-party-figure/news-story/8cffa82c265317714abf870857da009f?amp |website=The Australian}}</ref><ref name=":12">{{Cite web |date=2013-12-31 |title=Wikileaks party under fire over meeting with Assad |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/10544029/Wikileaks-party-under-fire-over-meeting-with-Assad.html |access-date=2023-10-08 |website=The Telegraph |language=en}}</ref> WikiLeaks said it "did not know or approve" of the visit.<ref name=":83"/>
In December 2013, Shipton said he wanted to open an office for the WikiLeaks Party in Syria.<ref name=":12" /><ref name=":112"/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gray |first=Rosie |date=2013-12-29 |title=WikiLeaks Party Members Visited Top Syrian Regime Officials |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/rosiegray/wikileaks-party-members-visited-top-syrian-regime-officials |access-date=2023-10-08 |website=BuzzFeed News |language=en}}</ref> According to Shipton, he asked Syrian journalists to become their Damascus "transparency office" and send back "proper information" about the conflict, but said in April 2014 that those plans were ended and the emphasis was shifted to Kyiv.<ref name=":92"/><ref name=":19">{{Cite news |last=Safi |first=Michael |date=2014-04-04 |title=WikiLeaks party to return to Syria in mission to help 'ordinary people' |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/04/wikileaks-party-returns-to-syria-in-mission-to-help-ordinary-people |access-date=2023-10-08 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Shipton added he and other members of the WikiLeaks Party would return to Syria to deliver medical supplies bought in Iran to the Red Crescent in Damascus, but said they would not meet Assad again.<ref name=":19" />
=== Missing funds === In March 2014, Jamal Daoud said that the WikiLeaks National Council was denied access to the WikiLeaks Party’s books and copies of financial statements. He also said John Shipton told him the group was $70,000 in debt despite having no employees and no advertising. Daoud said it was "like a family convenience store". Shipton refused requests for interviews and comments.<ref name="theaustralian">{{cite news |last=Owens |first=Jared |date=14 March 2014 |title=Julian Assange wants full control of Wikileaks Party, says party figure |work=The Australian |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/julian-assange-wants-full-control-of-Wikileaks-party-says-party-figure/story-fn59niix-1226854795684 |url-status=live |access-date=24 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140314115120/https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/julian-assange-wants-full-control-of-Wikileaks-party-says-party-figure/story-fn59niix-1226854795684 |archive-date=14 March 2014}}</ref>
== Julian Assange campaign == Shipton campaigns and acts as an ambassador for Assange.<ref name=":18" /> In 2019, ''The Age'' reported that Shipton regularly lobbied minor parties including The Greens calling for his son's release.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fowler |first=Michael |date=2019-04-12 |title=Julian Assange's father joins Melbourne rally for WikiLeaks founder |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/julian-assange-s-father-joins-melbourne-rally-for-wikileaks-founder-20190412-p51dp2.html |access-date=2023-10-17 |website=The Age |language=en}}</ref> In 2021, he was featured in the documentary ''Ithaka'', produced by his son Gabriel Shipton.<ref name=":03" /> In July 2022, he said that the campaign to free his son had taken all of his money, and he had sold a house in Newton. He said he continued to campaign using money from other sources, including donations and book-selling.<ref>{{Cite web |last=FitzSimons |first=Peter |date=2022-07-30 |title='Just get me out of here': Assange dad's desperate bid to bring his 'Wizard' home |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/just-get-me-out-of-here-assange-dad-s-desperate-bid-to-bring-his-wizard-home-20220729-p5b5om.html |access-date=2023-10-17 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref> In August 2022, he attended Parliament House to talk about Assange's case and frustration that he hadn't been able to meet with the prime minister, the foreign affairs minister, or the attorney general, despite requests.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Martin |first=Sarah |date=2022-08-04 |title=Julian Assange's family urge Anthony Albanese to intervene before US extradition |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/aug/04/julian-assanges-family-urge-anthony-albanese-to-intervene-before-us-extradition |access-date=2023-10-18 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> In September 2022, he addressed Mexico’s Senate and accepted the key to Mexico City on behalf of his son.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-14 |title=Assange family accepts keys to Mexico City |url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7903661/assange-family-accepts-keys-to-mexico-city/ |access-date=2023-10-17 |website=The Canberra Times |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-15 |title=WikiLeaks founder's family brings campaign to Mexico |url=https://apnews.com/article/mexico-caribbean-australia-united-states-city-5f6690fac0d0ed1197ecdb000ae3fc88 |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref> In May 2023, he said the campaign to free Assange was on the "cusp of success" after prime minister Anthony Albanese and opposition leader Peter Dutton said Assange's detention had gone on too long.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jackson |first=Lewis |date=2023-05-24 |title=Julian Assange's supporters say campaign for release on 'cusp of success' |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/julian-assanges-supporters-say-campaign-release-cusp-success-2023-05-24/ |access-date=2023-10-18}}</ref>
== Personal life == Shipton met Christine Ann Hawkins at a Vietnam War rally in 1970 when he was 26. By late 1970, they separated and she was pregnant with Julian Assange.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":14" /> Shipton says he had no feeling for family life and didn't see Assange after he turned three years old until 1996 when he was 25.<ref name=":15" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Sandra |date=2022-04-21 |title=No end in sight: Julian Assange's father opens up in new documentary |url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/movies/julian-assange-s-father-opens-up-in-documentary-ithaka-20220421-p5af2n.html |access-date=2023-10-10 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":17">{{Cite web |last=Quinn |first=Karl |date=2022-06-01 |title=Superb film shows the real toll on Julian Assange's wife and father |url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/julian-assange-doco-ithaka-tries-to-make-the-issue-not-the-man-the-story-20220530-p5apro.html |access-date=2023-10-10 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":16" /> He raised another son, Gabriel Shipton, in Sydney and has a daughter in Melbourne.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":17" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=FitzSimons |first=Peter |date=2022-07-30 |title='Just get me out of here': Assange dad's desperate bid to bring his 'Wizard' home |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/just-get-me-out-of-here-assange-dad-s-desperate-bid-to-bring-his-wizard-home-20220729-p5b5om.html |access-date=2023-10-10 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shipton, John}} Category:Julian Assange Category:WikiLeaks Party politicians Category:People associated with WikiLeaks Category:Living people Category:Australian architects Category:Year of birth missing (living people)