Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

As I understand it, the current proceedings Mr Assange is dealing with is seeking asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy in London. I am not sure why our response would be directed at the United States of America. What we have made clear in previous advice to the Senate is that we have no advice from US officials of any indictment against Mr Assange or that the US has decided to seek his extradition. I think that has been repeated by US officials. As I say, Mr Assange is being sought by the Swedish authorities for extradition from the UK. Legal proceedings have taken place in recent months. The question of how he responds to that is clearly a matter for him, but the Australian government continues to provide the same consular services to him as we would provide to any other citizen.