One of the key figures behind the deadly Bali bombings could be released from jail within weeks, after a further reduction in his sentence.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the government was making diplomatic representations to Indonesia following the proposed early release of bomb-maker Umar Patek – also sometimes called “the demolition man”.

Patek assembled the explosives used in the 2002 Bali bombings, which killed more than 200 people, including 88 Australians.

Mr Albanese confirmed on Friday that Patek’s sentence had been cut by a further five months, meaning he could walk free within days after only serving about half of his original 20-year sentence.

Prisoners in Indonesia are often granted reductions to their sentence on Indonesia’s Independence Day, which is August 17.

News of Patek’s potential release came less than two months ahead of October’s 20th anniversary of twin blasts at Kuta’s Sari Club and Paddy’s Bar.

it also came less than a year after the mastermind of the bombings, Jemaah Islamiah spiritual leader Abu Bakar Bashir, was also released from jail early. Bashir, now 82, walked from jail in January.

“This will add to the distress and trauma that the families of the 88 Australians who lost their lives in this terrorist attack feel, particularly on commemoration days, and the 20th anniversary is coming up,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told Seven’s Sunrise on Friday.

“It’s not just about the 88 people, we are talking about thousands of people who have been impacted with trauma, who have lost loved ones.

“They lost mothers and fathers and sons and daughters and brothers and sisters in this terrorist attack.”

The aftermath of the blast at the Sari Club, in Kuta.

Mr Albanese said the government was making diplomatic representations to Indonesia but acknowledged decisions about Patek’s future were being made in another nation.

“His sentence is there. It’s a decision that has been advised to Australian authorities,” he told the ABC.

“We continue to make diplomatic representations in Australia’s interest.

“We’ll continue to do that across a range of issues relating to security and relating to sentences, including the sentences of Australians who are currently being kept in Indonesia.”

Survivor Erik de Haart said there was little the Australian government could do.

“It’s a bit late for our government to do anything at the moment,” he told Seven’s Sunrise.

“When you consider all of the financial aid we’ve given [Indonesia] over the years, with the disasters they have had, and they seem to keep rubbing our noses in it.

“We’ve got to adopt a bit of a hotline with Indonesia and the other Asian countries who harbour these extremists and kill people and say, ‘You want to let these people live freely, you won’t get as much aid’.”

Mr De Haart added the bomb-maker might not be deradicalised, as claimed by the Indonesian authorities, despite potentially getting out early for good behaviour.

“I don’t care if he’s been deradicalised or not, it could be part of an act, but at the end of the day he made a weapon that killed 200 people and doesn’t deserve to be given a good behaviour release,” he said.

“For us, there hasn’t been a sense of justice at all.”

Another survivor, Phil Britten, said the news left him reeling.

Mr Britten was the former captain of the Kingsley Football Club in Perth’s north, and was in the Sari club with his teammates when the bomb exploded.

“Late last night I heard the news, and I was definitely disappointed, appalled to be honest,” he told ABC radio.

“This situation that we’re facing – yes we’re reflecting on the 20 years of that terrible night, 20 years ago, but now we have to, I guess, deal with emotions of this guy getting out as well.”

-with AAP