US President Joe Biden has said he is “considering” a request made by Australia to drop the charges made against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

The 55-year-old Australian journalist is currently detained in the UK for criminal charges over the leaking of military records. Assange has fought his extradition to the US, and said the leaks were an act of journalism.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that the comment made by President Biden was “encouraging”.

“Enough is enough, there’s nothing to be gained by Mr Assange’s continued incarceration.”

In February, Australian Parliament passed a motion to request the return of Assange to his home country.

The extradition was put on hold in March, after London’s High Court said that the US must provide evidence that Assange will not face the death penalty.

The High Court is due to evaluate responses from the US at the end of May.

Photo by Gage Skidmore is available HERE and is used under a Creative Commons Licence. This image has not been modified.