Indonesian consulate smeared with paint

A woman has hurled balloons filled with red paint outside the Indonesian Consulate in Sydney.

Police are searching for the woman who was seen in CCTV footage wearing light-coloured pants outside the consulate in Maroubra about 10.30pm on Monday.

They say she used the balloons to splatter paint on the footpath to apparently make it look like blood stains.

Convicted Australian drug smugglers Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran could be transferred for execution within the next 48 hours.

In a statement about the incident, Indonesia's foreign ministry asked its citizens in Australia to exercise caution.

"The Indonesian Consulate General warns all staff to be aware, while continuing their jobs, including visa, consular and public service," it said.

"The Indonesian Consulate General Sydney has restated the call for all of Indonesian society working in the areas of New South Wales, Brisbane and South Australia to keep on alert and be cautious."