The chief of Australia's foreign spy agency has been accused of a "sickening" act, after fist-pumping with the Philippines' controversial leader.

Key points: ASIS director-general Nick Warner "fist-pumped" with Rodrigo Duterte in photo

ASIS director-general Nick Warner "fist-pumped" with Rodrigo Duterte in photo Human Rights Watch says President should be charged with crimes against humanity

Human Rights Watch says President should be charged with crimes against humanity The photo was a "serious misjudgement", says deputy chairman of intelligence and security committee

ASIS director-general Nick Warner met Rodrigo Duterte at the presidential palace in Manila on Tuesday.

In a photo taken by the President's staff, both are seen with their right hands in a fist — Mr Duterte's trademark pose.

After assuming power last June, the 72-year-old politician's drug crackdown has seen thousands of extrajudicial killings across the South-East Asian nation.

"I think a picture like this really does tend to sort of suggest Australia's tacit support for these killings," Human Rights Watch Australia director Elaine Pearson said.

"It's sickening the head of Australia's spy agency would pose for a photo effectively fist-pumping a leader who has instigated the killing of thousands of people in the so-called war on drugs.

"It really adds insult to injury to the Filipino victims and to the families of those who've been murdered in cold blood as part of this campaign.

"You wouldn't pose for a photo like that with a mass murderer, and one day we certainly hope that Duterte may eventually be indicted for crimes against humanity."

Ms Pearson said Mr Warner and the Australian Government needed to clarify their positions on Mr Duterte's war on drugs.

'Completely inappropriate': Anthony Byrne

The Department of Foreign Affairs — ASIS' parent agency — did not respond to a request for comment.

But a spokeswoman for Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said: "Our director-general ASIS meets with leaders and ministers of regional countries regularly to advance co-operation in information sharing to counter-terrorism."

Labor's Anthony Byrne, deputy chairman of Parliament's intelligence and security committee, has rarely — if ever — publicly criticised Australia's spy agencies.

But he last night commented on the situation.

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"Consensus around intel community [is it was a] serious misjudgement."

Mr Warner is a former Defence Department secretary and long-serving Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade official.

A presidential spokesman told local media the spy chief visited to affirm "mutual support".

The Philippines has been waging a furious campaign against Islamist militants in the city of Marawi.

Australia is increasingly worried about the flow of foreign fighters back into South-East Asia from conflicts in the Middle East.