UK Government puts centuries of diplomatic law on the line to get Assange

It is surprising that the Australian government has had next to nothing to say about a matter involving the freedom of an Australian citizen, but Assange is a dissident of a variety with which Western governments are very uncomfortable. He is opposed to governments, of all ideological stripes, keeping secrets.

Foreign Minister Senator Bob Carr told CNN that he had decided to watch and wait because "nothing has changed." In the meantime, the WikiLeaks founder "remains an Australian citizen who will receive consular support."

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott offered the same lukewarm disinterest, telling the Nine network: "Whatever the ordinary law of Britain is, whatever would happen to anyone else in the same circumstances, Julian Assange should get identical treatment to anyone else in a similar position."

As Mr Carr and Mr Abbott both know, there is a grand canyon's difference between 'consular' and 'political' support when Australian citizens need help. While we do not know what wheels of government are spinning over phone lines and down halls of power, we do know the UK government is considering putting centuries of diplomatic law on the line for Mr Assange.

Julian Assange did not shoot a British policewoman, or anyone for that matter. He is an Australian citizen who has not been charged with any offences by the Swedish government. He is a digital publisher who has chosen to breach his bale to secure protection from US government extradition and currently unconfirmed legal intentions now leaking into the public domain, while the Australian government backs off.

Of what are the Australian, U.K and Swedish governments so afraid?