Ruddock defends AFP Bali Nine co-operation

Former attorney-general Philip Ruddock thinks federal police were justified in tipping off Indonesia about Australian drug smugglers now facing execution.

But Mr Ruddock says Indonesia should not go ahead with executing Bali Nine ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.

In April 2005, the AFP tipped off their counterparts in the Indonesian National Police that a group of young Australians were bringing heroin into Bali.

The five Australians were arrested at Denpasar airport and four others were arrested at a Kuta hotel.

An inquiry by Justice Paul Finn found that the AFP had acted within its lawful functions and the Bali Nine were "the authors of their own harm".

Since then the AFP has reviewed its procedures when dealing with cases where Australian citizens could face the death penalty.

Mr Ruddock, a former Howard government minister, said Chan and Sukumaran had been caught only "because perhaps there was a degree of assistance from Australia".

But they should not be executed because the death penalty was wrong in all circumstances, Mr Ruddock told Fairfax Radio on Monday.

However he defended the action of the AFP.

"What would you do if you had news of a proposed terrorist attack in Indonesia that would have adversely affected Australians on a beach, say in Bali, and our AFP said if they are caught for a terrorism offence they may be executed in Indonesia and we are not prepared to provide the information?

"There are times ... you might have to say it's more important that we protect the lives of the Australians who might otherwise be at risk."