Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong said yesterday that the long-running case of imprisoned Wikileaks founder Julian Assange had gone on too long.
Assange, an Australian citizen being held in Britain, is battling extradition to the United States, where he is wanted on 18 charges over the release of confidential US military records and diplomatic cables in 2010.
At a press conference in Brisbane after an Australia-US meeting, Wong said that Canberra had made it clear “Mr Assange’s case has dragged for too long, and our desire that it be brought to a conclusion”.
Speaking alongside Defence Minister Richard Marles, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, Wong said that representations had been made on behalf of Assange in public and private but there were limits on what could be done until his legal proceedings concluded.
“I understand that Mr Assange has filed a renewal of appeal application in the UK. The Australian government is not party to these legal proceedings, nor can we intervene,” she said.
Blinken confirmed that Assange’s case had been raised in the bilateral talks, saying that he understood the views of Australians on the sensitive issue.
“Mr Assange was charged with very serious criminal conduct in the United States in connection with his alleged role in one of the largest compromises of classified information in the history of our country,” Blinken told the press conference. “The actions that he has alleged to have committed risk very serious harm to our national security.”
Australia is backing a drive for Assange’s release ahead of his possible extradition to the US.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in May that he was “frustrated” over the ongoing detention.
This file picture shows Assange leaving Westminster Magistrates Court in London.
