Greste headlines Queensland's Australian of Year shortlist

Emancipated Australian journalist Peter Greste is in the running for 2016's Queensland Australian of the Year honour.

The Al Jazeera correspondent has been named alongside human rights activist Debbie Kilroy, transgender advocate Catherine McGregor and humanitarian Lucy Strickland on the state's shortlist.

The nomination comes eight months after Mr Greste made a triumphant return to Australia having spent 400 days in a Cairo jail.

Since his release, he's become a vocal campaigner for freedom of speech and the press, and has rallied against the detention of journalists worldwide.

The state's senior and young Australian of the Year nominees have also been unveiled, and include businessman and philanthropist Tim Fairfax and 17-year-old suicide prevention advocate Justice King.

"The Queensland finalists are an amazing group of Australians who are following their passions to make the world a better place," National Australia Day Council chief executive Jeremy Lasek said.

The winners will be announced at a service at the State Library of Queensland on October 30.

State winners go on to contest the overall Australian of the Year honour.

With AAP