Bali bombing: Scott Morrison asks Indonesia to respect Australia on Abu Bakar Bashir

Scott Morrison wants Indonesia to “respect Australia” as it considers the release of radical cleric Abu Bakar Bashir.

Abu Bakar Bashir is expected to be released from prison this week. Picture: AP

Scott Morrison has urged Indonesia to “show great respect for Australia” in considering the parole of radical cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, who is expected to be released from prison this week.

The Prime Minister said the architect of the 2002 Bali bombings, which killed 88 Australians, should serve out his full term.

Mr Morrison said he did not want Bashir to be in a position to “influence or incite anything”.

“We have been consistent always, governments of both persuasions over a long period of time, about our concerns about Abu Bakar Bashir and that he should serve what the Indonesian justice system has delivered to him as his sentence,” Mr Morrison said.

“In these cases, when prisoners have served about two-thirds of their sentence, it is not uncommon for them to get parole.

“But we have been very clear about the need to ensure that, as part of our joint counter-terrorism efforts, we have an excellent counter terrorism partnership with Indonesia, that Abu Bakar Bashir would not be in any position or any in way able to influence or incite anything.”

Mr Morrison said Australians died “horrifically on that night” of Bashir’s attack.

“I think Australians everywhere would be expecting that this matter was treated with the utmost seriousness. Of course by our government, which it is, and I have had direct contact over this matter,” Mr Morrison said.

“But also that the Indonesian government would show great respect for Australia in how they manage this issue also.”