Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is reiterating his call for the case against Julian Assange to be dropped, brushing off suggestions the United States won’t be swayed on the matter. 

Since winning office in 2022, the Albanese government has been advocating for the US pursuit of Assange to end.

But during a visit to Australia last week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken pushed back against the demands and said Assange was accused of “very serious criminal conduct”.

Assange, an Australian citizen, published a trove of classified documents more than a decade ago.

He has been in prison in the UK for more than four years and is fighting extradition to the US to face espionage charges.

“I understand the concerns and views of Australians,” Mr Blinken said.

“I think it’s very important our friends here understand our concerns about this matter.

“Mr Assange was charged with very serious criminal conduct in the United States in connection with his alleged role in one of the largest compromises of classified information in the history of our country.” 

Yet Mr Albanese did not believe Mr Blinken’s comments suggested the US administration was unlikely to change its approach to the case and rather reflected a position stated in private conversations. 

“What Secretary Blinken did was just state, consistent with what the American position has been,” he told reporters in Canberra.

“We remain very firm in our view and in our representations to the American government and we will continue to do so.”

The prime minister will continue to reiterate to his US counterparts that the matter has gone on for too long, and said “enough is enough”.

with Associated Press

By Maeve Bannister in Canberra