Jane Prentice (Ryan, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to support Peter Greste, who, as we speak, remains in custody in Egypt because he has had the courage to report on the conflict in that country. Peter was school captain at Indooroopilly State High School in Ryan, and I have known his parents, Juris and Lois, for many years. They are his greatest advocates. I thank the foreign minister for her efforts. She has been in constant communication with the post and with the Egyptian government on Peter's behalf. While the news of a trial date relieves some of the uncertainty of Peter's situation, his detention and that of his Al Jazeera colleagues requires our constant attention. I know that there is strong bipartisan support for Peter in this parliament at this difficult time.

I take this opportunity to call upon the government of Egypt to immediately release Peter and, importantly, release his colleagues. Every democracy confronts the challenges of a free press. We often disagree with reporting—as recent events demonstrate—but for all of those challenges one strong truth endures. A free and robust media and open public debate of ideas and ideologies is essential to the freedom of people including those that the Egyptian government claims to represent.