Gillard under fire from Assange

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard. Photo / AP

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard found herself being cross-examined by WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange when she appeared on the ABC's Q&A programme last night.

The WikiLeaks founder, who is under house arrest in the UK, beamed in by video link.

Mr Assange asked Ms Gillard whether she had swapped information about Australian citizens, particularly those who work at WikiLeaks, with foreign powers.

He asked, if she had, whether the Australian people should consider charging her with treason.

But the Prime Minister rejected the claim.

"I honestly don't know what he's talking about," she said, adding that no-one in the US had asked her about Mr Assange.

"So I'm afraid I can't help him with a full and frank exchange about people who work with WikiLeaks.

"To my knowledge it hasn't happened."

She conceded that the exchange of information between countries happens often, in cases relating to drug or people trafficking.

During the programme she questioned Mr Assange's motivations, saying she respected whistleblowers but that she did not support his "anarchic" ways.

She said the Federal Government was supporting Mr Assange the same way it would support any Australian citizen.

"My view about his confict is neither here nor there because we do support him," she said.

- ABC NEWS