Schapelle Corby may have to pay back interview money

Schapelle Corby, her face covered, sits at a correction bureau in Denpasar on Indonesia's resort island of Bali. Photo / AFP

Schapelle Corby would have to pay back any money earned from a media interview under a decade-old federal law.

The Queensland government is investigating how it can stop her from benefiting financially from selling her story about spending nine years in an Indonesian jail for marijuana smuggling.

It follows speculation the 36-year-old former Gold Coast beauty therapist has secured a A$2 million deal with the Seven Network.

But regardless of what the state government does, federal authorities have the power to confiscate her earnings under laws which came into effect in January 2003.

The commonwealth Proceeds of Crime Act refers specifically to literary proceeds, derived from someone selling their story or "criminal notoriety" about something they've done.

Queensland Bar Association president Peter Davis, QC, said federal law would apply to Corby because her Indonesian drug crime was also illegal in Australia.

"It's not where the offence was committed ... an offence against the law of the commonwealth doesn't necessarily have to occur within the commonwealth," Mr Davis told AAP.

Mr Davis said federal authorities could take action against Corby, even if she remained in Indonesia.

"There's no reason they couldn't proceed with it," he said.

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman has asked his Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie to investigate if Corby could be stopped under that state's proceeds of crime laws.

"I am deeply concerned, in fact I am dismayed, that a convicted drug criminal has benefited it appears from her criminal activity," Mr Newman told reporters.

The premier said he respected Indonesia's justice system and its decision to convict Corby.

"I just think we need to recognise there was a trial in Indonesia, she was appropriately convicted, she went to jail and now it appears she's benefiting from this act and I don't think it's very satisfactory," he said.

"So we will look and see whether that Queensland legislation has any application."

But Mr Davis said it was less clear if Queensland law could stop Corby's financial gains.

"It is a serious issue the state could look at," he said.

Corby spent more than nine years in jail after being found guilty of importing 4.2kg of marijuana into Bali in 2004.

She has always maintained her innocence.

- AAP