Julian Assange’s temporary reprieve means Australia must now work aggressively to ensure his release

A cardboard cut-out of Julian Assange outside the UK high court for the decision on whether the WikiLeaks founder can appeal against his extradition to the US. Photograph: Vuk Valcic/Zuma Press Wire/Rex/Shutterstock

The decision by the UK high court to allow the WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange leave to appeal against his extradition if the US does not provide assurances about his right to the first amendment, no death penalty and equal treatment under US law, is yet another milestone in this long-running case. Meanwhile Assange languishes in the notoriously harsh Belmarsh prison in London.

Assange faces criminal charges carrying a possible sentence of 170 years’ imprisonment for publishing materials in 2010 which exposed war crimes by the US in Iraq and Afghanistan.