Australian MPs are heading to the US to lobby for Julian Assange’s release.

A cross-party delegation of six Australian MPs is set to visit the United States on September 20 and 21, advocating for the release of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. 

The delegation includes former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce, Liberal Senator Alex Antic, Labor MP Tony Zappia, Independent MP Monique Ryan, and Greens Senators David Shoebridge and Peter Whish-Wilson.

The visit precedes Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's planned state visit to the US in October. 

On his way out of the country, Barnaby Joyce remarked; “We span the hard left to the hard right; besides the weather and Julian Assange, we probably don’t all agree on anything”. “Both Labor and the Coalition think this matter has gone far enough. What is to be gained by this going any further? If the Justice Department is seeking a sense of retribution, that’s already been achieved by the amount of time Assange has been in jail.”

Julian Assange remains detained in the UK's Belmarsh maximum security prison while awaiting the outcome of his second appeal to the UK High Court against extradition to the US. In June, Assange lost his first appeal against extradition.

Monique Ryan stressed the importance of the case, stating; “I’m not sure I agree with Barnaby Joyce on pretty much anything else, which suggests how important this is”. 

She highlighted the dangerous precedent Assange's extradition would set for journalism and press freedom.

Former foreign minister Bob Carr had previously questioned why Prime Minister Albanese had not raised the Assange issue with the US for a second time. 

Carr noted that the extradition case had significant implications for journalism and media organisations.

Julian Assange, known for his involvement with WikiLeaks, was arrested by British police in April 2019 after Ecuador withdrew his asylum status. 

The US has sought his extradition to face charges related to the release of classified documents.

The Australian MPs plan to meet with US officials, members of Congress, and media freedom organisations during their visit.