Christine Milne (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senators Wong and Abetz, move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

(i) the fundamental principle of freedom of the press,

(ii) the arrest and protracted detention of Australian journalist, Mr Peter Greste, and his two Al Jazeera colleagues, Mr Mohamed Fahmy and Mr Baher Mohamed,

(iii) that Mr Greste and his colleagues have now been imprisoned in Cairo for 340 days, and

(iv) that an appeal date has now been set for 1 January 2015;

(b) calls on the Egyptian Government to ensure a fair, just and timely resolution to the appeal process;

(c) expresses deep support for Mr Greste and his colleagues, and their role as journalists in reporting the news without fear or favour; and

(d) welcomes the reported comments from President al-Sisi that he is considering a pardon and release in relation to this case.

Question agreed to.