Libs cautious on Corby parole plan

Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister, Julie Bishop, supports the Government's attempt to help free Schapelle Corby, but says more detail is needed on how the pledge would work.

JULIE Bishop says the Opposition cannot yet commit to a plan to see Schapelle Corby released from her Bali jail cell on parole.

Corby's lawyer Iskandar Nawing said a parole application may be lodged as early as Wednesday or Thursday after the Gillard Government offered Indonesia a formal guarantee that the convicted drug mule would not breach conditions if released.

The application is not guaranteed to succeed but has been given a better chance by the Government's promise.

Under such a plan, Corby, 35, would stay in Bali to see out the rest of her sentence, due to end in January 2017, while adhering to strict requirements.

But Opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Julie Bishop has questioned how Foreign Affairs Minister Bob Carr is able to make such a promise.

Her office cited a statement by Senator Carr's department last year, which said: ''The Australian government can't give guarantees about the behaviour of Australians overseas, nor take legal responsibility.''

Ms Bishop wants to know what has changed since then, exactly what the government had promised and what would happen if the ''unprecedented'' guarantee was called upon.

Australia has offered Indonesia a guarantee that Schapelle Corby will not breach parole if released.

A spokesman for Ms Bishop said she needed answers from the department before a decision was made on whether a Coalition government would support such a guarantee.

''Senator Carr must make it very clear the status of this guarantee,'' Ms Bishop said.

''He says there is no legal liability so precisely what is Senator Carr offering ... and what are the consequences if that guarantee is called upon?''.

Schapelle Corby breaks down when the Bali court sentenced her to life in prison. She now has a chance to walk free on parole.

Ms Bishop said Senator Carr had an ''erratic approach'' to consular matters and perhaps was attracted to certain cases with high media interest.

''I am concerned he has not thought this one through,'' she said.

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