Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

The government has provided everything required to date to assist Mr Palfreeman to leave Bulgaria as soon as possible, and we will continue to do so. We are in contact with him and we'll provide every assistance to him as his case moves forward. He has received consular help throughout his case, both before and since the parole decision on 19 September. Officials have of course monitored his case. They have attended court proceedings and they have made over 100 prison visits in the lengthy time he has been in prison to check on his welfare. We have provided additional consular resources to our diplomatic post in Athens, which enables us to have a presence in Sofia, the Bulgarian capital, because we do not have a permanent mission there.