Prime Minister Tony Abbott phones Indonesian president over Bali Nine pair

Tony Abbott has described his telephone conversation with the Indonesian president over the fate of two Australians on death row as positive.

The prime minister made a phone call to Joko Widodo on Wednesday night, but isn't revealing what was said.

"I don't think it would help the case of these two young Australians if I was to start ventilating in public the contents of the conversation," he told reporters in Canberra on Thursday.

"Suffice it to say that the president absolutely understands our position."

Mr Abbott said he thought President Widodo was carefully considering Indonesia's position.

The president previously rejected clemency for convicted drug runners Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.