Renae Lawrence's dad lashes out at Indonesian president on executions

The father of Bali Nine drug smuggler Renae Lawrence says Indonesian President Joko Widodo is "heartless" to allow the executions of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukamaran.

Bob Lawrence, speaking from his home in Newcastle in the NSW mid-north coast, told the Newcastle Herald he is not a great fan of Chan and Sukumaran because of their role in "standing over" the drug mules in the gang, including his daughter.

Renae Lawrence, who is serving 20 years for attempting to smuggle heroin to Australia in 2005, testified along with three fellow mules that they were all threatened with death if they refused to smuggle the drugs.

However, Mr Lawrence yesterday said he believed Chan and Sukumaran had been rehabilitated.

"I just can't see the sense in killing them, there is absolutely no gain," he was quoted as saying.

"Seeing the families on the television and the heartbreak they are going through, I really don't know how they have been able to handle it."

He said Renae was not friends with the death row inmates but "she certainly never wished them any harm".

"She wanted to get in contact with them before they left for the island, but she was lost on what to say," he said.