Rudd throws support behind sending Corby witness

CANBERRA - The Australian government had responded appropriately to an Indonesian request for a Victorian prison inmate to appear at the trial of Schapelle Corby, Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd said today.

Justice Minister Chris Ellison said today arrangements were under way to send the remand prisoner, named in court in Bali yesterday as John Ford, after Indonesia made a request overnight for him to give evidence.

The inmate has said 27-year-old Corby was an unknowing pawn in a drug smuggling operation between Brisbane and Sydney airports.

Corby, a Gold Coast beauty therapist could face death penalty if found guilty of smuggling 4.1kg of cannabis into Bali's Denpasar airport in her boogie board bag last October.

Yesterday was the last day Corby's defence team was allowed to present evidence but the court in Denpasar allowed an adjournment to give time for the man to be sent to Bali.

Mr Rudd said today the use of the Mutual Assistance In Criminal Matters Treaty, whereby a witness of interest in a case could be made available to give evidence in a trial such as Corby's, was appropriate.

"I'm pleased that the Indonesian government has now reportedly made such a request of the Australian authorities to make available this witness," Mr Rudd said.

"Also, the reported actions of the Australian government in response to its request have the Opposition's complete bipartisan support.

"We think it appropriate for the Australian government to respond positively, in practical terms, for the request that has been made in order to assist in this serious legal case."

Mr Rudd said it was important that both sides of politics were mindful of avoiding any inflammatory language as we needed to respect the independence of the Indonesian judicial process.

Senator Ellison said today he had yet to formally approve Ford's travel to Bali but Australian Federal Police (AFP), Victorian Police and Indonesian authorities were arranging it.

- AAP