The federal government is looking at a prisoner transfer arrangement that would allow jailed journalist Peter Greste's return home.
Greste's family have formally applied for the Al Jazeera journalist's deportation under new Egyptian laws which include some kind of prisoner transfer scheme.
In November Egypt issued a new decree granting its president the power to deport foreign defendants convicted or accused of crimes.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says the details of the laws are sketchy but could allow his return to Australia to face legal proceedings at home.
"Deportation is one issue, a prisoner transfer is another," she told Macquarie Radio on Wednesday.
Ms Bishop would not go into the details but said the government was ready to assist in any way it could.
"Our aim from the outset has been to get him home as soon as possible," she said.
"We're hoping (his) family will be able to take advantage of (the new laws)."
Greste and colleagues Canadian-Egyptian Mohammed Fahmy and Egyptian Baher Mohammed have been jailed for more than a year.
Last week a Cairo Court of Cassation ordered a retrial, after a court sentenced Greste and Fahmy to seven years in prison and Mohammed to 10 years last June amid widespread international condemnation.
Ms Bishop said if the family were successful in a transfer application, they would not have to wait for the outcome of the retrial.
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