‘‘Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work.’’ - Mother Teresa

Motion by the Hon. SHAOQUETT MOSELMANE 

(1) That this House notes that:
(a) Peter Greste, an Australian with a long and distinguished career as an international journalist, had been working for Al Jazeera television network until December 2013 when he and two colleagues, Canadian-Egyptian national Mohamed Fahmy and Egyptian national Baher Mohamed, were arrested, charged and subsequently sentenced by an Egyptian Court for seven years' imprisonment following allegations that he and his colleagues were working with the Muslim Brotherhood which had been declared by the Egyptian Government as a terrorist organisation;

(b) Peter Greste and his colleagues, all of whom defended the charges against them, are now appealing that decision, which is to be heard on 1 January 2015; and

(c) the Hon. Shaoquett Moselmane hosted a lunch in support of Juris Greste and Lois Greste, the parents of Peter Greste, at New South Wales Parliament in the presence of their Sydney lawyer Rick Mitry from Mitry lawyers, his wife Sandra Mitry as well as the Hon. Luke Foley, the Hon. Amanda Fazio, Mr Ron Hoenig, MP, the Hon. Helen Westwood, the Hon. Barbara Perry, Ms Sonia Hornery, MP, the Hon. Penny Sharp, the Hon. Lynda Voltz and Ms Anna Watson, MP.

(2) That this House:
(a) expresses concern regarding the arrest and conviction of Peter Greste while he was undertaking his work as a journalist and notes the dedicated work undertaken by Juris and Lois Greste on behalf of their son;

(b) asserts its support for freedom of the press, human rights and the rule of law; and

(c) calls on the President to convey to the Egyptian Government, via their Consul-General in Sydney, the hope that the appeal process for Peter Greste will be concluded in a timely manner and the House's support for freedom of the press, human rights and the rule of law.