Labor toughens stance on Assange, backs vote to bring him home

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has sent a strong message about the need to release WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange from prison in the United Kingdom, voting in parliament for a motion that called for the Australian citizen’s return to the country.

The vote signalled a new federal government stance by going beyond past statements from Albanese about the need to bring the matter “to a conclusion” in some way.

Tasmanian independent Andrew Wilkie moved the motion in parliament and gained support from Labor backbencher Josh Wilson before a vote of 86 to 42 in favour of his call to end the prosecution and allow Assange to return to his family in Australia after years in prison.

Assange’s last ditch appeal against his extradition will be heard in the UK High Court next week.

Assange will next Tuesday make a last-ditch appeal in the British High Court against the court’s decision last June to allow his extradition to the United States to face charges for publishing classified US military documents.

Wilkie sought to suspend the usual business of the House of Representatives shortly before 5pm on Wednesday to move a motion that said Assange should be released and be allowed to return home to his family.

Wilson, the member for Fremantle in Western Australia, seconded the motion.

Wilkie told parliament Assange had been in Belmarsh prison in the UK after taking refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy in London for several years to avoid extradition to the US.

“Surely, this man has suffered enough and this matter should be brought to an end,” Wilkie said, as Greens and crossbench MPs indicated their support behind him.

Wilkie told parliament he would fly to London next week when two UK High Court judges review the extradition order.

“Almost a third of this parliament signed a letter to the US government not that long ago to call for this matter to be brought to an end,” he said.

“There are people who loathe the man, there are people who worship the man … but just about everyone agrees that this has gone on too long. Regardless of what you think of Mr Assange, justice is not being done in this case now.”

Wilkie’s call gained support from Labor MPs ranging from the prime minister to cabinet ministers and backbenchers. It was also supported by independent and Greens MPs. Albanese appeared to wish Wilkie well after the vote by patting him on the arm as MPs left the House.

Archer was the only member of the Liberal party room who voted in favour. Another Liberal, Russell Broadbent, who now sits on the crossbench, voted in favour.

The motion was opposed by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley as well as Nationals leader David Littleproud and other members of shadow cabinet and the Coalition backbench.

Albanese raised the treatment of Assange in private talks with United States President Joe Biden last October, stepping up efforts to find a way to release the Australian from jail.

Albanese confirmed to this masthead that he raised his concern about Assange in his discussions with the president during meetings that included an informal dinner, a discussion in the Oval Office at the White House and a formal meeting with Biden and his cabinet secretaries.

While the prime minister would not discuss his private talks with Biden or the president’s view of the matter, he made it clear he believed the detention had gone on too long.

“I’ve made it clear that enough is enough — that it’s time it was brought to a conclusion,” he said at the time.

Assange is facing a maximum jail sentence of 175 years after being charged with 17 counts of breaching the US Espionage Act plus a separate hacking-related charge.

The Wikileaks disclosures included the “collateral murder” video that showed US forces killing civilians in Iraq and the release of a trove of US diplomatic cables.

“We want the government to do more than just make representations to the Biden administration,” Assange’s brother Gabriel Shipton said last year.

“Ideally, we would like the government to act as it does for other Australians who are imprisoned overseas.”

The Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, former Labor cabinet minister Stephen Smith, highlighted the government’s concern on the matter by visiting Assange in April last year.

There was a rally outside Parliament House on Tuesday with comments from Liberal MP Bridget Archer, Greens Senator David Shoebridge and Labor MP Josh Wilson.

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