Julian Assange’s supporters have urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to intensify his efforts to convince Joe Biden to drop the charges against the WikiLeaks founder after the US president said he was considering Australia’s request.

Albanese said he was encouraged by Biden’s comments, which followed persistent lobbying and a successful House of Representatives motion in February that called on the United States and Britain to bring the “matter to a close so that Mr Assange can return home to his family in Australia”.

Asked about Australia’s request to drop the charges against Assange on Thursday (AEST) as he hosted Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for an official visit, Biden said: “We’re considering it”.

“This is an encouraging comment from President Biden,” Albanese told the ABC, adding Australia had consistently lobbied for the US government to drop its pursuit. “Enough is enough, there’s nothing to be gained by Mr Assange’s continued incarceration.”

In October last year, Albanese raised the plight of Assange directly with Biden while on a state visit to Washington.

Assange’s brother Gabriel Shipton welcomed Biden’s comments, saying: “This is time for the government to really double down and try to achieve an outcome.

“This is a moment to keep pushing. Biden has opened the door to a political intervention.”

Pat Conroy, Australia’s minister for defence industry who is currently in the US for AUKUS talks, told the ABC AM program: “The Australian government from Prime Minister Albanese down have been very clear that we think the Assange matter needs to be brought to a close. We think [it] has been going on for too long and we’ve communicated that to both the United States and UK government, so I welcome President Biden’s comment.”