Former top spy and senior diplomat Dennis Richardson has lambasted the federal opposition for criticising a deal to free the remaining members of the Bali Nine from an Indonesian prison, saying it lacked an understanding of the circumstances of their arrest.

Amid revelations that Anthony Albanese was close to securing their release following talks with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Lima, Peru, last week, opposition frontbencher Michaelia Cash went on the attack, suggesting the government should not be repatriating convicted heroin traffickers.