Govt pays for return of Bali Nine bodies

Taxpayers funded the cost of transporting the bodies of executed Bali Nine ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran from Indonesia to Australia.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has revealed her department made the decision to cover the costs, "after careful consideration of the harrowing and unusual circumstances faced by the families".

"We are not releasing details out of respect for the families and their privacy," she said in a written answer to a question on notice from independent MP Cathy McGowan.