The Australian Government has not done enough to protect Wikileaks founder Julian Assange from extradition to the United States, according to former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce.

Key points: Mr Joyce said Assange was not on US soil when he began releasing classified information and should be protected

Mr Joyce said Assange was not on US soil when he began releasing classified information and should be protected Prime Minister Scott Morrison has previously said Assange would not receive any special treatment but would receive consular support while in prison

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has previously said Assange would not receive any special treatment but would receive consular support while in prison Assange previously sought asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, fearing extradition to the US

Mr Joyce has called for the Federal Government to step in and try to stop Assange being extradited from the United Kingdom to the US on espionage charges.

Assange is currently behind bars in London after living in the Ecuadorian Embassy for seven years.

Mr Joyce said Assange was not on US soil when he began releasing classified information and he should be protected.

"Sovereignty is not just for people that you like or people that you have a philosophical relationship to, it might be for someone you detest, it might be for someone that you find completely obnoxious," Mr Joyce said.

"Nonetheless, if they're a citizen of this nation, they should be afforded the rights of a citizen."

A judge in London in April found the WikiLeaks founder guilty of breaching his bail.

Assange faced sexual assault allegations in Sweden when he sought asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy in London 2012, fearing extradition to the US.

Relations between the Australian and his Ecuadorian hosts soured in the final months of his stay at the embassy.

Julian Assange will stay in prison as he fights extradition to the US. ( Reuters: Henry Nicholls )

That ultimately ended when British police, at the invitation of the Ecuadorians, entered the embassy and dramatically arrested him. Ecuador has since revoked his citizenship.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has previously said Assange wouldn't receive any special treatment but would receive consular support while in prison.

"Whether you like a person or not, they should be afforded the proper rights and protections and the process of justice, as determined by an Australian Parliament, not another nation's parliament," Mr Joyce said.

"If they were in that other nation when it happened, sure. But if they were in our nation, they're covered by our laws."

Mr Joyce's intervention has failed to win over his Government's senior leaders.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said Assange was being afforded support from Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials.

"He ultimately will face the justice for what he has been alleged to have done, but that is a legal process that will run its course," the deputy Liberal leader said.

"But we will continue as a Government to provide him with the appropriate consular services."