Beijing: The national peak body representing the legal profession in Australia has urged the federal government not to ratify an extradition treaty with China, citing concerns the mainland's criminal justice system lacked procedural fairness and was "steadily marching in the wrong direction".

Addressing the parliament's Joint Standing Committee on Treaties in Canberra on Monday, the Law Council of Australia said there was no way to guarantee those extradited would be granted a fair trial, nor were there any effective measures to prevent torture or China going against diplomatic assurances and administering the death penalty.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands before their meeting in Beijing in April. Credit:Andrew Meares

"There's no consequence, what's Australia going to do?" David Grace, QC, of the Victorian Bar told the committee.