Five years since his arrest, two and a half years since his trial and six months since a cyst was found on his kidney, Australian writer Yang Hengjun remains in Chinese prison without a verdict.
Though Australia's relationship with China has thawed in recent months, Beijing's detention of Australian citizens remains a sticking point.
University of Technology associate professor and Dr Yang's friend Feng Chongyi said the government should use its economic and geopolitical leverage in China to do more.
