Linda White (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Julian Assange and his legal proceedings have understandably attracted great interest in Australia. It is important to acknowledge the depth of community sentiment about this issue. Indeed, my own electorate office receives calls from concerned members of the public about this issue, and I welcome those representations. It is also important to note that the Australian government has made clear its view that Julian's case has dragged on for too long and it should be brought to a close. Both the Prime Minister and the Minister for Foreign Affairs have personally expressed this view to the governments of both the United Kingdom and the United States and will continue to do so. At this point I might add that this is an issue that requires a measured and sustained diplomatic approach based on mutual respect.

I have known Senator Wong for many years, and I know her approach to this matter and to all her important diplomatic work is a sound, measured and sustained approach that prioritises diplomacy and respect. It is also worth making the point that the Australian government is unable to intervene in another country's legal processes, just as another country is unable to intervene in Australia's processes. Further, the Australian government is not party to these legal proceedings, so we cannot influence them. They are a matter for the independent foreign court of law, not the Australian government. Similarly, while we're doing what we can in facilitating dialogue between the Australian government and other concerned governments, there are limits to what can be done until Mr Assange has concluded the necessary legal processes. In a comparable case, the resolution by government was only possible after legal processes had concluded. We have to have these due legal processes occur and indeed respect those legal processes.

Let us not also forget that, as we do for other Australians facing legal proceedings overseas, the Australian government is following Julian's case closely and offering consular assistance to him as often and as comprehensively as we can. The High Commissioner of Australia to the United Kingdom visited Mr Assange in Belmarsh prison on 4 April and had the opportunity to check on Mr Assange's health and welfare. This is a part of the consular assistance afforded to all Australians detained overseas and will continue to be so. Of course, part of the assistance is also the Australian government's expectation that Julian Assange is entitled to due process as well as humane and fair treatment and access to his legal team. These expectations are important to the government and will continue to be conveyed.

Again, as we were saying, the Australian government, including the foreign minister and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, cannot simply intervene in overseas legal processes. We can make representations and seek to get an earlier outcome that way, but we cannot force an outcome and nor would we want another country forcing their views on Australian legal processes.

So all these points still stand. Firstly, Senator Wong has made the point publicly that the case has dragged on for too long and should be brought to a conclusion. That desire has been expressed both publicly and privately, in the media and diplomatically. We want to see Julian Assange's matters resolved and brought to a close. Secondly, until the matter is brought to a close and those proper legal channels of appeal and due process happen, there is little that an Australian government can do to intervene in the legal processes of another country, besides making those representations I mentioned earlier. From a personal point of view, I understand the public interest in the case, but these legal processes of a foreign country must be respected. Lastly, the Australian government has provided, and will continue to provide, Julian Assange with consular assistance to check on his welfare, to offer support and to make sure that his health is being looked after and that he is being treated humanely and fairly.