Prime Minister Julia Gillard is confronting a growing backlash within her own party, with more Labor MPs declaring their support for WikiLeaks' founder Julian Assange and free speech, The Australian reported.
Despite describing the WikiLeaks site as "illegal", Ms Gillard has been unable to nominate any specific laws that have been broken.
Labor Left MP Maria Vamvakinou from Melbourne told The Australian the government had read the public mood wrongly on the issue and said she supported the release of the classified material.
"The leaked material, I believe, the public should know about and have the right to know about this information. I believe that very strongly," she said.
"If you believe in freedom of speech, you can't pick and choose.
The ALP's parliamentary Left national convenor Doug Cameron told the newspaper he believed in freedom of the press and the right to publish material without Mr Assange being depicted as a traitor.
"The guy is entitled to a presumption of innocence. He is entitled to consular support and these argument . . . that he is some kind of traitor, I think has to be in the context that it (WikiLeaks) is operating like any other media outlet," Senator Cameron said.
West Australian Labor senator Louise Pratt said she wanted Mr Assange to get full consular assistance and said he should not be prejudged.
"I hope that he doesn't turn into the next David Hicks for the government."
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