An unlikely alliance of federal politicians have joined forces to demand WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange be brought back to Australia.
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The group, which includes Tasmanian independent Andrew Wilkie and Queensland conservative George Christensen, are concerned about Assange's health and potential extradition from the UK to the United States.
The pair described his treatment as a direct attack on journalists with Mr Wilkie calling on the prime minister to bring Assange home.
Mr Wilkie said Monday's meeting saw politicians from across party lines, including the Greens and the Nationals, come to the table, with the Liberals the only party not represented.
The group was briefed about Assange's case by his legal team.
"There was quite a bit of discussion about Julian's health ... (it's) so poor in fact that doctors are worried about his health and whether or not he can even survive," Mr Wilkie said.
"All he did was shine a light on US war crimes. This is so wrong at every level and so unjust.
"This isn't just about Julian Assange, this is about what rights we as Australians have or a least should have."
He said the group wants the US extradition request against Assange dropped and has requested meetings with the US ambassador and UK high commissioner to Australia.
Mr Wilkie said he and Mr Christensen had both already written to the UK high commissioner to seek advice on whether the group could visit Assange in his English prison.
The visit to London's Belmarsh prison would not be at the public's expense, Mr Wilkie said, but would show support for Mr Assange and allow the group to directly assess his health.
The independent MP asked if Prime Minister Scott Morrison would let an Australian journalist be extradited to China or North Korea if their governments wanted them locked up.
He said Mr Morrison could pick up the phone to UK leader Boris Johnson or US President Donald Trump and tell them to drop the matter.
Swedish prosecutors recently dropped rape allegations against Assange, saying too much time has passed and witness evidence was no longer reliable.
Assange faces espionage charges in the US over the leaking of classified government documents, including footage of a US helicopter attack on unarmed civilians in Iraq in 2007.
Australian Associated Press
