Assange tells PM on arrival: 'You saved my life'

The WikiLeaks founder's lawyer Jennifer Robinson shared details of the exchange at a press conference held in a packed conference room at the East Hotel in Kingston tonight.

"We are absolutely thrilled that Julian is now home in Australia," Ms Robinson said.

"I can say when we landed here in Australia, I became very emotional.

"The moment we landed - and the Prime Minister was the first person to get on the phone to speak to Julian - Julian thanked him and the team and told the Prime Minister that he had saved his life and I don't think that's an exaggeration."

But it seems Mr Assange has no immediate plans to meet with Mr Albanese; when asked if he would do so, Ms Robinson: "No comment", echoing the Prime Minister's earlier response.

Mr Assange's wife Stella implored for privacy, saying Mr Assange was not yet ready to front the media after his ordeal.

"Julian needs time to recover. To get used to freedom," she said.

"I ask you please to give us space, to give us privacy, to find our place. That our family can be a family, before he can speak again. At a time of his choosing.

"He never should have been in prison ... There is no evidence anyone was physically harmed from those publication [by WikiLeaks]."

Ms Robinson said: "We are absolutely delighted after a very long and complex negotiation with the US government that we've reached this plea deal that enabled him to come home to Australia as a free man."

She said it was "unfortunate" that Mr Assange had had to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit espionage for publishing evidence of US war crimes and human rights abuses.

"This is journalism. This is the criminalisation of journalism," she said.

"And while the plea deal does not set a judicial precedent, it's not a court decision, the prosecution itself sets a precedent that can be used against the rest of the media.

"It's important that journalists all around the world understand that dangerous precedent is prosecution has set.

"Julian is incredibly grateful for the support that he's had from the Australian government and from the public here in Australia and we're delighted that he's home. He's finally home."

A crowd of about 100 supporters and campaigners waited at the East Hotel in the hope of welcoming Mr Assange on Wednesday evening, after WikiLeaks announced the planned media event on Twitter.

People enjoying their meals at the hotel's restaurant were met with a swarm of cameras and signs.

Sue and Marie Ryan from the Alliance against Political Prosecutions group told The Canberra Times they had hoped to catch a glimpse of Mr Assange at the at the hotel, after staking out his arrival at the airport.

"I have been crying for days," Sue said. She said she had never expected to see the day when Mr Assange would be free.

Marie was ecstatic to have seen Mr Assange hug his wife Stella upon arrival. "She was so little! And he picked her up," she said.

Earlier in the evening, Mr Assange was greeted with cheers from a crowd at Canberra Airport.

He had departed the remote Pacific island of Saipan, after appearing before a US court to accept a plea deal that secured his freedom.

He left as a free man after his lawyers struck a deal with US authorities, ending a 14-year long legal saga.

Mr Assange was sentenced to time already served in prison.

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