Peter Greste Says Julie Bishop's Death Stare Helped Get Him Out Of Prison

Australian journalist thanks Julie Bishop and her "laser eyes".

Peter Greste, who spent 400 days in an Egyptian prison, has thanked foreign minister Julie Bishop for her diplomatic efforts to free him in a speech to the National Press Club today.

Mick Tsikas / AAP

Along with Al Jazeera colleagues Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed, Peter Greste was sentenced to seven years in a Cairo jail for consorting with the banned Muslim Brotherhood group.

Staff and diplomats from Julie Bishop's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade helped secured his release.

But it turns out she also employed a secret weapon: What Peter Greste called her "laser-like" eyes.

ABC

ABC

ABC

The infamous Julie Bishop Death Stare.

Greste said during the negotiations, Bishop had an "uncanny ability to smile very warmly at a particular diplomat and at the same time burn holes through the back of their skulls."

Lisa Maree Williams / Getty Images

What does it feel like to be the victim of those laser eyes? According to Greste, it's like "getting hugged by the Terminator."

Hemdale Film Corporation / ghostofcheney.tumblr.com

Peter Greste also thanked his family, fellow journalists and politicians for uniting in the fight for his freedom, while in his words he "didn't really do much more than sit in a box for 400 days and write a few notes."

Mick Tsikas / AAP

Welcome home Peter.