What help can Australians hope for if arrested overseas?

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says there have been an increasing number of calls to Australian embassy staff to help Australians arrested overseas. Figures in the department's annual report serve as a reminder to Australians traveling overseas that, if arrested, the Australian government is not obliged to offer legal support. It may have simply been an act of youthful exuberance by a group of Formula One fans in Malaysia but when nine Australians were arrested there recently after stripping off their clothes in public, the Australian government had no obligation to help. They were fortunate to escape conviction and return to Australia shortly after the incident -- but others have not been so lucky. In its annual Consular State of Play report, the department notes the number of cases of Australians arrested overseas has risen to 1,551 in 2015-16, up 23 per cent in a year. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says Australians need to know there is a limit to what the Australian government can do to help Australians in legal trouble overseas.

AUS PASSPORT AAP Source: AUS PASSPORT AAP