Foreign Minister Julie Bishop plans to haul the Indonesian ambassador in as soon as he returns to Canberra to personally protest against the "degrading treatment" of Bali nine ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.
And in a further sign of the government's anger, Treasurer Joe Hockey has lashed out at "incredibly insensitive" and "macabre" images leaked to Indonesian media which show a senior police officer posing and smiling with the Australians en route from Bali to Nusakambangan island, where they will be executed.
Deputy secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Greg Moriaty - who was Australia's ambassador to Indonesia until last year - has already phoned ambassador Nadjib Riphat Kesoema to lodge an official protest.
The ambassador was in Perth and is believed to be travelling to Brisbane. When he returns to the capital, Ms Bishop will meet him to complain in person about the "disproportionate use of force" Indonesian authorities used to transfer Chan and Sukumaran.
Chan and Sukumaran were handcuffed, shackled and surrounded by heavily armed and masked security personnel for their transfer. In contrast, a Nigerian drug smuggler was transported in a small van.
The embassy in Jakarta is also lodging a complaint with the Indonesian government.
The Australian government fears Indonesia is singling out Chan and Sukumaran for special treatment to maximise publicity and make a point to its western neighbour. Senior commissioner Djoko Hari Utomo has denied he knew his photographs with the Bali nine pair were being taken and said he was comforting them and not posing for a "selfie moment".
Mr Hockey described the images as "incredibly sensitive".
"It's almost macabre the way this has been handled by the Indonesian authorities and I think we have done absolutely everything we can," he told Sunrise.
"It is certainly frustrating but it's so sad. This is just so sad on so many fronts."
Mr Hockey ruled out punishing Indonesia via foreign aid cuts.
Indonesia has flagged a "short delay" in the executions of Chan and Sukumaran, raising the possibility there may be time for a legal appeal lodged by the men to be considered.
Attorney-General HM Prasetyo would not confirm if they would will be executed next week, telling reporters he wanted to be prepared for the smallest problem before the Bali nine pair and up to eight others go to the firing squad for their drug offences.
