PM criticised for comparing Julian Assange to Cheng Lei and Sean Turnell

Shadow Home Affairs Minister James Paterson has criticised Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for making comparisons between Julian Assange and Cheng Lei and other Australians who were “innocent”.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has returned to Australia as a free man after pleading guilty to espionage in a plea deal to secure his release.

“I think it’s a mistake as some have done, including the Prime Minister, to make comparisons between Julian Assange and Cheng Lei, Sean Turnell … these were Australians who were innocent, who were persecuted for other reasons by authoritarian powers,” Mr Paterson told Sky News Australia.

PM criticised for comparing Julian Assange to Cheng Lei and Sean Turnell

“Mr Assange evaded lawful extradition requests.

“The reason why this has taken so long to resolve is because of his decision to challenge that in that way.”