Bishop praises stoicism of Charlie Hebdo staff in aftermath of Paris massacre

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has visited the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, which was targeted by terrorists in Paris.

Ms Bishop presented staff with a copy of The Canberra Times cartoonist David Pope’s sketch which he composed in the aftermath of the January attack.

“Coming from Australia, we see satire as an integral part of French society – as French as croissants,” she told staff.

“Satire is a counter-balance against power and is a necessary part of the way French people see themselves and the world.”

She said the events of those days in January highlighted the “perverted hatred” of the terrorists, and the “stoicism” of the magazine staff.

“We admire those who are still working here, and those who have come to work here since the tragedy.”

Riss, the director and managing editor of Charlie Hebdo said the David Pope cartoon "is something we could have drawn, each and every one of us here because this is exactly how we felt and how we feel," The Age reported.

He was shot in the shoulder during the attack which left 12 people dead.

The attack was presumed to be in response to controversial Mohammed cartoons.