LAWS prohibiting states and territories from reintroducing the death penalty are being seriously considered by the Rudd Government and could be introduced this parliamentary term.

The Herald understands the Attorney-General's Department is looking at legislation that would incorporate into domestic laws Australia's obligations under an international treaty, the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The move comes amid growing pressure from Labor MPs who want Australia to take a more principled stand on the death penalty and send a strong signal to the region that it is serious about being an abolitionist country.

Concern is mounting about the fate of the three Australians from the so-called Bali nine on death row - Scott Rush, Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan. They are yet to file motions in the Indonesian courts for their sentences to be reconsidered but will most likely do so later this year.

Caucus and a cross-party working group on the death penalty were briefed last month by one of the barristers working for Sukumaran and Chan, Julian McMahon. This followed a briefing late last year by Rush's barrister, Colin McDonald, QC.