Australia's Foreign Minister Bob Carr has voiced his government's opposition to the death penalty, during a visit to Papua New Guinea.
PNG prime minister Peter O'Neill says he will implement the death penalty to deter violent crime after a spate of murders and gang rapes.
During a brief visit to Port Moresby, Mr Carr met Mr O'Neill and his PNG counterpart Rimbink Pato, the ABC reports.
Mr Carr said the prime minister spoke about PNG's law and order challenges, and he voiced Australia's opposition to capital punishment.
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard is due make her first visit to PNG next week.