Foreign Minister Julie Bishop is deeply concerned Al Jazeera journalist Peter Greste is still in jail in Egypt.

Australian authorities are constantly in contact with their Egyptian counterparts, including at the highest levels.

“The prime minister spoke to the president, the attorney-general has rung the minister for justice,” Ms Bishop told ABC radio on Friday.

“I spoke again to the foreign minister only two days ago.”

Australia has also asked other countries that have closer relationships with Egypt to make representations.

Mr Greste is on trial with four other journalists for the Qatar-based broadcaster on charges of aiding the blacklisted Muslim Brotherhood and defaming Egypt.

Ms Bishop said he was the only foreign journalist still in detention, a fact she found deeply concerning.

“We are continuing to argue that he should at least not be detained,” she said.

His main defence lawyers quit a week ago, accusing Mr Greste’s employer Al Jazeera of only being interested in insulting Egypt.

That was deeply regrettable, Ms Bishop said.