The leaders of Australia’s two big political parties agree that the years of harassment of an Australian citizen by the US should not continue. 

Opposition leader Peter Dutton and Anthony Albanese have both agreed that it is time for the detention of Australian journalist and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to end. 

This is the first time in over a decade that the major political parties in Australia have publicly supported a diplomatic intervention in the case.

While attending King Charles’ coronation in the UK, Albanese told journalists that he was concerned about Assange's mental health and that “enough is enough”. 

Dutton later agreed that the situation had “gone on too long”, and said that he supports the prime minister's course towards finding a solution.

Despite private advances made on Assange's behalf in recent years, the major party leaders had been reluctant to publicly call for his release. 

Nearly 50 federal parliamentarians have called on the US to drop its extradition bid, and a cross-section of Australian politicians have been raising the matter internally with their colleagues and international counterparts.

Many believe that the leaders' agreement on Assange's case is a significant development and could have a positive impact on his release.