WA seeks to extradite 'Postcard Bandit'

Western Australia's bid to extradite notorious bank robber Brenden Abbott from Queensland now he's been granted parole is an "extraordinary reversal", his lawyer says.

Abbott, who is also a prison escapee, was granted parole on Wednesday after serving almost 20 years behind bars.

WA Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan confirmed on Thursday moves were under way to extradite Abbott so he could face outstanding criminal matters in the state and potentially a further 12 years behind bars.

"We are making an application to the DPP today for extradition. I'd expect it to happen very quickly," Mr O'Callaghan told reporters.

Solicitor Brendan Nyst earlier said "it would be difficult to comprehend" why WA authorities would seek his client's extradition given he had already served a lengthy sentence.

He noted Abbott had repeatedly sought transfer to WA since 2004, reportedly to be closer to family, but his pleas had been rejected.

"Western Australia has consistently said that they don't want him back in WA," Mr Nyst said.

"If there is to be some request, it would be a massive turnaround for the WA authorities ... an extraordinary reversal.

"Mr Abbott has paid dearly for his crimes and hopefully now he will be able to get on with his life."

He said his client was likely to be released from the Woodford Correctional Centre, north of Brisbane, on or before April 20 and wanted to move to Cairns where his sister lives.

Abbott would likely seek to challenge the lawfulness of any extradition application, Mr Nyst said.

He was unaware of any issues his client faced in South Australia, where police said they were reviewing files alongside other jurisdictions to determine their course of action.

Mr Nyst said Abbott, who had spent almost a decade in solitary confinement as part of the "supermax solution", was "generally sanguine about what will happen".

He was dubbed the "Postcard Bandit" amid false reports he taunted police by sending them postcards while he was on the run.