Australian PM Anthony Albanese supports vote calling on UK and US to free Julian Assange

(L-R top row) Andrew Wilkie with Liberal Bridget Archer and Labor's Josh Wilson. Crossparty MPs backed a motion on Wednesday calling for Julian Assange to be allowed to return to Australia. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

Australian federal MPs – including the prime minister and cabinet members – have voted overwhelmingly to urge the US and the UK to allow the WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to return to Australia.

The independent MP Andrew Wilkie hailed the passage of the motion, 86 votes in favour and 42 against, as “an unprecedented show of political support for Mr Assange by the Australian parliament”.