Penny Wong’s comments dampen hopes for Assange’s release

London: Foreign Minister Penny Wong says the rule of law must be applied to Julian Assange, dampening hopes that her government is about to secure the WikiLeaks founder’s freedom.

Assange is being held in Britain’s Belmarsh Prison where he is appealing his extradition to the United States to face charges related to the theft of hundreds of thousands of secret cables from the US government, which WikiLeaks published in full, more than a decade ago.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong at the Australian High Commission in London on Tuesday.Credit: Latika Bourke

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he had raised the matter with the US and British governments, raising hopes among Assange’s supporters that the Australian could walk free from jail without being extradited to the US to face trial.

Asked about the matter during a news conference in London on Wednesday morning (AEDT), Wong said it was “not a decision for the Australian government” and pointed to the legal processes under way.

“We believe that this matter has dragged on too long, and we continue to raise it at the appropriate levels with both the US and the UK governments.

“You would be familiar with the very many legal processes with which Mr Assange is involved, and you would also know that in all three countries being discussed the rule of law applies.”

Albanese has previously said he saw no constructive purpose in Assange’s continuing incarceration.

“I have raised the issue with the US administration and raised the issue on behalf of Australia,” he said in December.

“I do not see what constructive purpose is served from the ongoing incarceration of Julian Assange.

“I do believe that enough is enough and that this issue should be brought to a close.”

Assange is appealing the British courts’ ruling that he be extradited to the US, arguing he is the victim of a political prosecution.

The 51-year-old married his wife, Stella, in a ceremony inside Belmarsh Prison last year and secretly fathered two sons with her during his time holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy in London. He spent seven years in the embassy evading a separate extradition order to Sweden, where he was wanted to face questions over sexual assault allegations.

Assange was evicted by the Ecuadorian government in 2019, leading to his arrest and imprisonment. He has repeatedly been denied bail, with judges deeming him a flight risk, pointing to his past evasion of the Swedish extradition order.

Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for the weekly What in the World newsletter here.