Corby devastated by lack of help says lawyer

DENPASAR, Bali - Schapelle Corby is devastated that the Australian government has not helped her more, her lawyer said ahead of her appeal hearing today.

Corby has arrived at Denpasar District Court for the appeal in which she is hoping to have her conviction and 20-year sentence for drug smuggling quashed.

The court is expected to hear evidence from two Qantas staff that they did not notice anything unusual about Corby's luggage or behaviour when she checked in at an airport for her holiday to Bali in October last year.

But the defence team has not been able to produce key witnesses, including a Victorian prisoner known only as Paul, who are allegedly prepared to tell the court they placed 4.1kg of marijuana in Corby's bag.

Customs staff found the cannabis in Corby's luggage at Denpasar airport when she arrived.

Her Indonesian defence lawyer, Hotman Paris Hutapea, said today that Corby was devastated the Australian government had not been able to provide more help and said assistance from Canberra in the last few days was "already too late".

"Until the last day there is now witness from Australia," Hutapea said.

"She feels very, very sad, she feels lonely."

Hutapea lashed out at Justice Minister Chris Ellison who has refused to travel to Bali for a meeting with the defence team, despite being in Jakarta today.

"I know your government doesn't want Corby to be free," he said.

Ellison has offered to meet Hutapea in Jakarta, an offer the lawyer turned down because he was too busy.

The high-priced counsel said he had sent dozens of letters to all levels of government in Australia begging for help and denied he should have made time to travel to Jakarta tonight to meet the minister.

"There is no issue of pride," he said.

"I asked him to come to Bali, why not come to Bali. Yesterday I worked hard to talk to the witness, to prepare for the hearing today, but he insist to come to Jakarta so I report that to Corby and Corby is very very upset because there is no way we leave Corby just because we want to meet somebody from your country."

Hutapea also slammed Australians for allowing the government to abandon Corby.

"Your country, your people, always think you are the best human being (sic) in the Earth," he said.

"But in fact your bloody airport, sending all marijuana to my own country, look at the Bali nine.

"So don't say any more that Australians are the most human law-abiders. In fact your front yard is very dirty."

- AAP