Former foreign minister Bob Carr believes Australia should form a pact with other countries to tackle drug trafficking into Indonesia in exchange for the Bali Nine ringleaders on death row.

The government should do some "quick work" with countries like Brazil and France, who also have citizens on Indonesian death row, and present a package to help the nation's drug problems, Mr Carr says.

The anti-drug policing pact would require commitment and funding and focus on stopping drugs getting into Indonesia's region.

"Our efforts should be directed at giving them reasons sufficient to justify to their people that they can grant clemency in this case," Mr Carr told ABC radio on Friday.

Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan have been transferred to the island of Nusakambangan for execution.

The government has been pleading with Indonesian officials to spare the pair's lives, with Foreign Minister Julie Bishop floating a prisoner-swap deal.

Mr Carr said granting clemency for the duo would add to Indonesia's case for clemency of their own citizens on death row in other countries.

But he said Indonesia had been burnt by political backlash before, when clemency was granted to Australian drug smuggler Schapelle Corby.