Australia has joined critics of Brunei's new law against gay sex and adultery, as American actor George Clooney calls for a boycott of all Brunei-owned hotels.

Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne said the Morrison government has raised its concerns with Brunei officials.

"We are absolute opponents of the death penalty in all circumstances. So any suggestion that laws would facilitate that application of the death penalty is a matter of concern to Australia."

Opposition leader Bill Shorten also urged the country to abandon the laws, arguing they would breach the UN Declaration of Human Rights.

In Australia, Labor leader Bill Shorten and Penny Wong issued a statement condemning the move by Brunei.

"Labor is deeply concerned by the Brunei government’s plans to implement new laws that would see adultery and homosexual acts between consenting adults punishable by death," he said in a joint statement with opposition spokesperson for foreign affairs, Penny Wong.

"We note the new penal code would be in breach of the UN Declaration of Human Rights. Australia has always stood strongly for the protection and promotion of human rights.

"Doing so is vital to a peaceful world where all have the right to live with dignity, freedom, safety, security and prosperity."

Calls for a boycott of Brunei's hotels

American actor George Clooney has called for a boycott of nine Brunei-owned hotels over the sultanate's imposition of the death penalty for gay sex and adultery.

"Every single time we stay at or take meetings at or dine at any of these nine hotels we are putting money directly into the pockets of men who choose to stone and whip to death their own citizens for being gay or accused of adultery," Clooney wrote on website Deadline Hollywood.

"I've learned over years of dealing with murderous regimes that you can't shame them. But you can shame the banks, the financiers and the institutions that do business with them and choose to look the other way," he added.

Here are words I’ve never said before: I agree with George Clooney. Brunei’s laws criminalizing homosexuality — and imposing capital punishment — are immoral, barbaric & inhumane. We should stand united in condemning them & not give our $$ to those who perpetuate oppression. https://t.co/eipC9MiQOk — Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) March 29, 2019

The nine hotels are located in the US, Britain, France and Italy.

In addition to film-making chops that have netted him two Oscars, Clooney is known for his globe-trotting political activism, especially his tireless campaigning to draw attention to the conflict in Sudan's Darfur region.

The changes to Brunei Darussalam’s penal code criminalize activity, such as same-sex acts, that should not be crimes, and allow heinous punishments such as death by stoning and amputation. Brunei must halt plans to implement these vicious punishments. https://t.co/jJFVaJdBLS — Amnesty International (@amnestyusa) March 29, 2019

Law only applies to Muslims

Brunei will implement the harsh new penal code - which also mandates amputation of a hand and foot for theft - starting on 3 April.

Homosexuality is already illegal in the tiny sultanate, but it will now become a capital offence. The law only applies to Muslims.

AAP

Brunei first announced the measures in 2013, but implementation has been delayed as officials worked out the practical details and in the teeth of opposition by rights groups.

However, a spokesman for the Brunei religious affairs ministry Wednesday said only that Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah was expected to make an announcement on April 3 regarding the implementation of the new Sharia laws.

"Only after the event we will know regarding the date of the implementation of the new laws," he told AFP Wednesday. "In terms of readiness, at the moment we are prepared to enforce the amputation of the hand for stealing only. That is all."

HRW says plan is 'ill-considered'

Phil Robertson of Human Rights Watch warned that implementation of the law "will quickly drive the country towards human rights pariah status in the eyes of foreign investors, tourists, and international agencies".

He added: "If this ill-considered plan goes forward, there is every reason to believe the global boycott Brunei movement will re-start."

Robertson said Brunei will become the only country in Southeast Asia to punish gay sex with death if it pushes through with the law.

Under a shift towards hardline Islamic law, Brunei in 2015 banned excessive Christmas celebrations for fear that Muslims could be led astray.