Peter Greste calls on government to do more to secure Australian's freedom

Journalist Peter Greste has called on the Australian government to do more to secure the freedom of a Brisbane man who was held in an Egyptian jail without charge for more than one year.

Hazem Hamouda, a 55-year-old Australian citizen, was detained shortly after landing at Cairo International Airport on January 25, 2018, the anniversary of Egypt's 2011 revolt.

Hazem Hamouda with his Australian-born daughter, Lamisse.

He was travelling to Egypt to join his children on a short holiday.

Mr Hamouda's family maintained he has no history of political activism in Egypt, but said his activity on Facebook in Australia, which in the past included material sympathetic to the Muslim Brotherhood, may be the cause of his arrest.

Mr Hamouda's lawyers secured his release from one of Egypt's most notorious prisons, Tora in Cairo, but his overnight departure was prevented by passport control officers, with his passport and luggage seized, before he and his daughter Saja were escorted from the airport.

Mr Greste, who was himself imprisoned in Tora prison after being accused of news reporting that was "damaging to national security", said he was deeply concerned and called on Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Australian authorities to do more to free Mr Hamouda.

Journalist Peter Greste is calling on the Australian government to do everything it can to free Hazem Hamouda.Credit: Eddie Jim

"I'm also concerned that Hazem didn't seem to have the consular support that I think is really vital at this stage," he said.

"I know that in our case, we realised that I wasn't free until I was completely out of Egyptian judicial control and that meant not just out of prison, not just even out of immigration, but away from Egyptian airspace.

"We had the ambassador with me all the way ... and I know that DFAT and the Foreign Minister were actively engaged through the whole process, and I think that's the lesson here, that Hazem needs that kind of support.

"He's been through hell and he needs help to get out of Egypt and back home to Australia and to his family."

His daughter, Lamisse Hamouda, said her father was extremely scared for his safety.

"Obviously he's also very traumatised by the whole experience at the airport, thinking he would go to safety and now he's still in Egypt," she said.

"His life is still at risk, he could be rearrested, he could be taken by national security again - it's just not a safe place for dad to be.

"My sister [Saja] is there and she's also quite scared."

Hazem Hamouda with his daughter Saja when he was released from police custody.

Ms Hamouda said efforts were now being made to find a way to get her father and sister out of Egypt.

"We're just not sure why more effort is not being made to help my dad and sister get out of Egypt," she said.

About two weeks ago, his family were informed the prosecutor-general had ordered Mr Hamouda's release and he would be released at a police station in Cairo.

However, when his lawyer and daughter arrived, Mr Hamouda was not produced, and despite further requests for information, he was considered to have disappeared.

Mr Hamouda was later found in prison and his family was informed he would be released but his release date continued to be pushed back.

In Tora prison, Mr Hamouda was kept in a 9-by-3-metre cell with 13 other men, sleeping on the floor, with limited time outdoors.

The Brisbane man was born in Cairo and was serving in the Egyptian Navy when he met his Australian wife in 1987.

He has lived in Australia since and became a citizen in 1993.

A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokeswoman said the department was providing consular assistance to Mr Hamouda.

Consular officials accompanied Mr Hamouda to the airport and the department remains in contact with his family.

The family's local Queensland MP, Duncan Pegg, said his family had been doing everything in their power to bring him home safely.

"Hazem may not be a famous sports star or celebrity but he is a local father in my community and that certainly should not make his case any less worthy," he said.

"It's well and truly time for Hazem to be able to return back to his family and my local community, where he belongs."