KEY POINTS:
ADELAIDE - Last time David Hicks stood on Australian soil, he was a nobody.
This time, he's a convicted supporter of terrorism.
The last time, in November 1999, Hicks stood as a 24-year-old Muslim convert leaving Adelaide for Pakistan and further Islamic studies.
This time, he returns with
a standing of being among most infamous of modern Australians.
Hicks' return to Australia today caps an incredulous seven and a half years for a boy from a blue collar northern Adelaide suburb.
He returns a self-confessed supporter of terrorism, pleading his guilt after spending five years detained by the US at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Hicks returns officially unable to tell his story, agreeing to an extraordinary 12-month media gag as part of his plea bargain.
He also withdrew the right to take any legal action against the US for his detention, much of it spent in isolation.
Hicks also agreed to drop abuse allegations, forever nullifying his August 2004 affidavit in which he said he was "beaten before, after, and during interrogations", deprived of sleep and forcibly injected with unknown sedatives.
But the key part of the plea deal for Hicks was getting out of Guantanamo.
His US military lawyer Michael Mori says the former chicken boner and jackaroo just wanted to try to shut Guantanamo from his life.
"David is committed to putting the time he has spent at Guantanamo Bay behind him and he has no desire to speak about it," Major Mori says.
"David is aware there have been comments and speculation in the media generated from other people that David may try to profit from his past experiences.
"David has no intention of trying to profit or sell his story.
"He desires to put this part of his life behind him."
Major Mori said Hicks was "aware that there is speculation on whether he poses any danger to his community upon his release".
"David knows that he will have to prove himself to many people and he is committed in doing so," he says.
"David is fully committed to complying with any requests made of him by the South Australian government or Commonwealth government upon his release from prison at the end of this year."
Indeed, Hicks has no choice to comply - it's part of the plea bargain that he co-operates not just with Australian governments but with the US, which can summon him any time to give evidence.
Major Mori says Hicks, who dropped out of high school after being expelled, wants to continue his education while in jail before his release around December 31 this year.
"David is looking forward to being able to see his family regularly in a South Australian prison," he says.
"He hopes to take advantage of any educational opportunities in the prison. David plans to continue with his education upon his release at the end of this year."
Terry Hicks still maintains his son is innocent and shouldn't be labelled a terrorist.
Mr Hicks says an adventurous streak put his son in the wrong place at the wrong time.
"He has always had an adventurous streak, which has probably been pretty hard to contain, I think it led him down the wrong path," said Mr Hicks.
The path led Hicks to Pakistan, where he was called Abu Muslim al-Austraili and Muhammed Dawood and attended al-Qaeda training camps.
And then the path led to Afghanistan, when Hicks joined the Taleban in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the US.
Hicks was reportedly captured in the back of a truck by the Northern Alliance, who sold him to the Americans for $1,000.
The Adelaidean was then taken to Guantanamo Bay in January 2002 -- he didn't leave the US military prison until yesterday, May 19.
- AAP
