Prime Minister Tony Abbott is urging Indonesia to remember the huge contribution Australia made in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami and repay that generosity by sparing the lives of the two Australians on death row in Bali.
Mr Abbott's comments, in which he sought to remind the Indonesian people of the Australian lives lost helping Indonesians cope with the natural disaster, marks the Australian government's strongest response to the planned executions to date.
Mr Abbott said a short delay in Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran's planned executions was an "encouraging straw in the wind" but was no sign of clemency and warned there would be consequences if the pair are killed.
"We will be making our displeasure known, we will be letting Indonesia know in absolutely unambiguous terms that we will feel grievously let down," he told reporters on the Gold Coast.
"Let's not forget that a few years ago when Indonesia was struck by the Indian ocean tsunami, Australia sent a billion dollars worth of assistance," he said.
"We sent a significant contingent of our armed forces to help in Indonesia with humanitarian relief and Australians lost their lives in that campaign to help Indonesia," the Prime Minister reminded.
"I would say to the Indonesian people and to the Indonesian government, we in Australia are always there to help you and we hope that you might reciprocate in this way at this time," he pleaded.
"We can't just ignore this kind of thing," he added.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop welcomed the short reprieve granted to the two Australians on death row in Bali but warned Indonesia its foreign policy "runs the risk" of being seen through the "prism" of the death penalty.
Chan and Sukumaran were due to be transferred from Bali to a Nusakambangan island prison this week, an indication that they would soon face the firing squad.
Indonesia's Attorney-General HM Prasetyo has told Fairfax Media the delay is to grant the pair more time with their families and not a sign a stay of execution will be granted.
His spokesperson Tony Spontana on Tuesday also admitted the Central Java island wasn't prepared to handle the execution of so many people at once.
"This week, I think we can't do the transfers because the isolation cells and other things are not ready," he told reporters.
Later on Tuesday Indonesia's Foreign Minister Rento Marsudi stressed the "drugs crisis" her country was facing, saying that the death penalty was a domestic "law enforcement" response and not a foreign policy position.
"Although we understand the position of the Australian government it should be underlined that this issue is purely a law enforcement issue," she said.
Ms Bishop on Wednesday welcomed the delay and said it would be a relief for Chan and Sukumaran and their families.
But she said the death penalty was a foreign policy issue because Indonesia seeks mercy for its own nationals on death row around the world and the Foreign Minister was personally involved in making those pleas.
"Indonesia's foreign policy runs the risk of being seen through this prism," Ms Bishop told the ABC, admitting it had placed stress on the relationship describing it as "difficult".
"We're asking Indonesia to show the same mercy as they seek to be shown to their nationals who are on death row in other countries," she said.
Ms Bishop said the government would not give up hope the pair's execution could be stayed but threatened diplomatic repercussions.
"There are a number of options available to us particularly in diplomatic circles and we will consider all those options but our sole focus at the moment is on getting a stay of execution," she said.
"We will not give up hope while we continue to engage across the Indonesian government."
Ms Bishop again urged the Indonesian government from taking any steps until Chan and Sukumaran's appeal against their rejected clemency bid which is slated for February 24.
with AAP
