Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you to Senator Shoebridge for the question. He is correct; we do understand that a decision on Mr Assange's case is expected soon. As you would know, this matter is before the UK courts. I appreciate that Senator Shoebridge has previously made comments, with which we don't agree, about our capacity to intervene in legal proceedings of another country—another jurisdiction. Obviously, the Australian government cannot do that. I can confirm, however, that the Prime Minister and I have personally raised this issue with both the United States and the United Kingdom. I can confirm that that occurred very recently in the last instance, and there have been an ongoing set of representations. The government is also engaging closely with Mr Assange and his legal team, and we will continue to do this.

There is obviously strong interest in this case. There is a depth of community sentiment. The Prime Minister has said quite clearly publicly and I have reiterated that we believe that enough is enough and there is nothing to be served by Mr Assange's ongoing incarceration. Obviously, we have also ensured that Mr Assange has been visited by our high commissioner, Mr Smith. And, as I said to you previously, Senator, there is a limit, until Mr Assange's legal processes are concluded, on what government can do. As you will recall, a resolution by government was only possible after legal processes had been concluded in a— (Time expired)