The Australian Senate has today urged Prime Minister Tony Abbott to make direct contact with the Egyptian Government to seek the immediate release of Australian citizen Peter Greste and 19 other journalists who are currently detained in Cairo.

"The Prime Minister needs to act on the responsibilities that come with his office. Australian citizens deserve the highest level of representation and, in this case, time is running out," said Greens Leader Christine Milne, who put forward the motion that passed this afternoon.

Greens communications spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam welcomed today's news the Government will pursue nationally consistent journalist shield laws but warned they would offer little protection in the face of ubiquitous metadata surveillance and the Government's proposed data retention scheme.

The Australian Greens have backed the right of journalists to protect their sources in the face of more attempts by Gina Rinehart to force reporters to turn over notes and correspondence relating to news articles.

The Greens communications spokesperson, Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam, said the right to protect sources was critical to journalists doing their job.

The Australian Greens have backed the right of journalists to protect their sources in the face of attempts by members of the Rinehart family to force reporters to turn over correspondence relating to news articles.

The Greens communications spokesperson, Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam, said the right to protect sources was critical to journalists doing their job.

"We must have a fiercely independent press, and whistle-blowers and contacts should not be intimidated into silence by the powerful."

The Australian Greens today welcomed the decision by Egyptian authorities to drop charges against Australian journalist Austin Mackell.

The Greens communications spokesperson, Senator for Western Scott Ludlam, had followed the case closely from Mr Mackell's arrest on February 11 this year, urging a vigorous diplomatic approach from the start and raising the matter in Parliament.  Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon moved a Senate motion of support for Mr Mackell in March.

The Australian Greens today applauded the efforts of Foreign Minister Bob Carr in securing the release of Australian lawyer Melinda Taylor and urged him to show the same vigour in defending Australian journalists Austin Mackell and Julian Assange.

The Greens communications spokesperson, Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam, said Mr Mackell and Mr Assange need assistance from the Australian Government to protect their human rights.

The Senate has unanimously passed an Australian Greens resolution calling on the Government to make direct representations on behalf of jailed Bahraini human rights activist Mr Nabeel Rajab.

Greens Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam thanked Senators for their concern for Mr Rajab.

"Mr Rajab is a prominent pro-democracy and human rights campaigner. He was arrested by Bahraini authorities on May 5 shortly after being interviewed by Australian journalist Julian Assange. We must now turn concern into action."