Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has asked for legal advice on the implications of a United Nations report that found Julian Assange had been "arbitrarily detained" since his arrest in 2010.
A UN panel has called on the Swedish and British authorities to end the "deprivation of liberty" of the Australian-born Wikileaks founder who has spent 44 months living in a single room in the Ecuadorian embassy in London.
Mr Assange's lawyers met Ms Bishop a day before the UN working group's decision was released and later called on Australia to release his passport or immediately issue him a new passport.
Australian lawyer Jennifer Robinson asked that Australia "take positive steps to help to negotiate the resolution of this case".
Ms Bishop has made no comment on whether Australia would renew Mr Assange's passport or lobby Sweden or Britain. Both countries have dismissed the UN's findings.
In a statement, Ms Bishop confirmed she had spoken to Mr Assange's legal team and she restated a previous offer of consular assistance.
"I have now read the report and I am seeking legal advice on its implications for Mr Assange, as an Australian citizen," she said.
"I have confirmed with his lawyers that our offer of consular assistance stands should he require it."
Mr Assange, describing the UN's findings as "vindication", said he should now be able to walk out of Ecuadorian embassy without being arrested.
British foreign secretary Philip Hammond described the UN report as "ridiculous" and Sweden insisted that Mr Assange had chosen "voluntarily" to live inside the embassy since June 2012.
The Australian's lawyers said he would not leave the embassy until a European arrest warrant against him is cancelled by Swedish authorities.
Mr Assange has found little sympathy with members of the Turnbull Government.
On Saturday Science and Innovation Minister Christopher Pyne described the globally-recognised whistleblower as "no hero".
"What he's done over the last few years has put a whole lot of people's lives at risk, including Australian service personnel," Mr Pyne said.
