A controversial Q&A broadcast involving comments from Zaky Mallah didn't cross the line in inciting Australians to join Islamic State terrorists, Peter Greste says.
The Australian journalist, who was released in February after spending 400 days in an Egyptian jail cell for reporting on political events following unrest, says the government is shooting the messenger in slamming the program.
The ABC, which admitted an error in judgment, has been heavily criticised for allowing the convicted criminal airtime during Monday night's program.
But while Mr Greste says the ABC could have handled the material more sensitively, the criticism that has followed is designed to shut down public discussion.
"Anything that closes down debate I think is a bad thing, as long as the debate doesn't overstep the boundaries of becoming incitement ... and I don't think that debate crossed that line," Mr Greste told a media lunch in Melbourne.
He said the treatment of Human Rights Commission president Gillian Triggs was another example of a public institution attacked to deflect attention from an issue critical of government.
"I think the way that the government has responded to it ... is deeply concerning," he said.
"What we're seeing, I think, is an attack on the messenger increasingly rather than engagement with the message."
