Australia does not accept the concept of capital punishment and has not done so for many years.

The Federal Government, through Prime Minister John Howard and Foreign Minister Alexander Downer in particular, has appealed to their counterparts in Singapore to spare the Australian's life.

Unfortunately, Singapore does include the death penalty as part of its sentencing regime, particularly for drug-related charges.

Nguyen Tuong Van has been convicted of drug smuggling and all his appeals for clemency, both formal and informal, have so far fallen on deaf ears.

It is deeply saddening for his family and friends in Australia that he may lose his life soon, but he is convicted of a serious crime and Singapore's laws are well recognised.

The comments of former Liberal minister Wilson Tuckey on the matter are hardly worthy of comment.

Everybody agrees that drug traffickers should be severely punished for their crimes. Their activities very often lead to the deaths of innocent and vulnerable Australians.

It is just that punishment for even the most serious of crimes in this country does not extend to the death penalty any more and Australia is entitled to appeal to Singapore not to inflict it on one of its citizens.

It appears those appeals have been exhausted and there is little hope now for Nguyen Tuong Van.

But the fact that the Australian Government and many ordinary Australians have made their feelings plain on the matter has been a worthwhile, if possibly fruitless, exercise.

It might at least have the effect of prompting those responsible in Singapore to give some more thought to the death penalty provisions.

However, they seem very committed to their views on the matter and there is, unfortunately, not too much the Australian Government or the family and friends of Nguyen Tuong Van can do about that.