Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has revealed his direct involvement with Julian Assange’s legal team to strategise the release of the WikiLeaks founder.
Mr. Assange, 52, is wanted in the United States for espionage, and faces 18 charges related to disclosing highly classified information concerning the U.S.-led wars in Afghanistan and Iraq in 2010.
He faces his final appeal in the UK in a last-ditch effort to avoid extradition to the United States, though he was deemed too ill to attend the start of the two-day hearing in London.
Mr. Albanese said he discussed Mr. Assange’s case “at the highest levels” with the United States and the UK.
“I’ve engaged with his [Mr. Assange’s] legal team on a regular basis as well, on a strategy to try to get through this and come out the other side in Mr. Assange’s interest,” he told ABC Radio Sydney.
The prime minister said he firmly said that “enough is enough.”
“It’s time Julian Assange was brought home.”
He mentioned his government’s diplomatic efforts to bring the Wikileaks founder back to Australia, including discussions with U.S. President Biden during a press conference.
Although he has previously said the U.S. president did not involve himself in the Department of Justice’s affairs.
Nevertheless, when asked if Australia would intervene if Mr. Assange’s case fails, the prime minister pointed to the country’s track record.
“If you look at our record ... we have since I’ve been prime minister been very successful at making representations on behalf of Australians,” he said, citing Cheng Lei in China, Sean Turnell in Myanmar, and other cases from Vietnam.
It comes as Independent MP Andrew Wilkie, who attended the UK hearing, proposed a motion on Feb. 14, urging Australia’s closest allies, to halt the prosecution of Mr. Assange and permit his return home.
The motion passed with 86 votes in favour, and 42 against.
“The resolution that was passed in the House of Representatives last week was very clear,” Mr. Albanese added.
“And a majority, certainly all of the Labor MPs and I think all of the crossbenches as well voted, as well as at least one Liberal.”
Prosecution of Assange Politically Motivated: Lawyers
Mr. Assange is currently held in HM Prison Belmarsh in the UK after spending seven years under political asylum in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London.The multi-award-winning journalist potentially faces 175 more years behind bars if the High Court rejects the hearing, although it’s likely to be at least 30 to 40 years.
His lawyers say he faces the further risk of a denial of justice if tried in the United States.
They argue the prosecution is allegedly politically motivated and retaliatory, stemming from WikiLeaks “exposure of criminality on the part of the U.S. government on an unprecedented scale.”
“The U.S. was prepared to go to any lengths (including misusing its own criminal justice system) to sustain impunity for U.S. officials in respect of the torture/war crimes committed in its infamous’ war on terror,' and to suppress those actors and courts willing and prepared to try to bring those crimes to account,” Mr. Assange’s lawyers said in written arguments.
Mark Summers KC, representing Mr. Assange, stunned the court with further revelations of an alleged U.S. scheme to either kill or kidnap the WikiLeaks founder.
“What the evidence now shows is that the U.S. developed a plan to try to either kill or rendition Mr. Assange to the USA,” he said.
“There were red flags everywhere,” he added, alleging the plan to capture Mr. Assange failed only when UK authorities expressed reluctance to permit rendition or engage in a potential shootout on the streets of London.
The U.S. government has frequently maintained that Mr. Assange’s actions threatened its national security.
During a visit to Australia for high-level talks, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned that Mr. Assange faced allegations of “very serious criminal conduct.”
Assange’s Legal Battle Not Over, Even in the Face of Potential Defeat
Despite the contentious opinions surrounding the Wikileaks founder, his potential victory in this case will lead to another hearing to review his challenge.Professor Holly Cullen from the University of Western Australia added even if he loses, it will not necessarily be the end of the road in Mr. Assange’s legal battle.
“This is the final avenue of appeal in the UK, although Stella Assange, Julian’s wife, has indicated he would seek an order from the European Court of Human Rights if he loses the application for appeal,” she said.
“The High Court will hear two days of legal argument and might not give its judgement immediately, but it will probably be delivered soon after the hearing.”
“Whatever the decision, Assange’s supporters will continue their political campaign, supported by the Australian government, to stop the prosecution,” she said.
Amnesty International, media groups, and politicians stand shoulder to shoulder, advocating for the safe return of the Australian citizen.
