Support ... Friends place hands from their reach out campaign in front of the State Library in Melbourne / David Crosling

Mr Lasry said, however, the fight to save Nguyen would continue.

He said yesterday's visit was probably the most difficult of his career.

Nguyen's execution has been set for December 2.

His mother, Kim, and twin brother, Khoa, will fly to Singapore to visit him in Changi prison this week.

It will be the first time Nguyen has seen his brother since he was caught with 396 grams of heroin strapped to his body and in his hand luggage at Changi airport in 2002.

He told the court he was trafficking heroin to pay legal fees incurred by Khoa.

An international campaign to abolish Singapore's mandatory death penalty for possession or trafficking of more than 15 grams of heroin had just begun, Mr Lasry said.

"Even if our client is executed, as he probably will be, the campaign against Singapore's mandatory death sentence will continue," he said.

"I've been on this case for three years now, and I'm of the view that it's a fight we have to continue."

The mother and twin brother of convicted Australian drug trafficker Nguyen Tuong Van visited him in Singapore on Tuesday, just days before his planned execution.

Kim Nguyen and son Khoa, who arrived in the city-state on Monday night, spent about an hour in the morning with Nguyen, 25.

It is understood that they were separated during the visit by a pane of glass.

No direct contact was permitted, in line with standard practice at Changi Prison.

It was the first time the twins had seen each other since Nguyen's bid for clemency failed.

Nguyen was arrested in late December 2002 in transit at Changi Airport, the major air hub that lies just a few kilometres from his current cell on Singapore's death row.

After being convicted, losing his appeal and having all pleas for clemency rejected, Nguyen is scheduled to be executed at dawn on Friday, December 2.

Mrs Nguyen will be allowed daily weekday visits of about an hour, until the final three days before her son is put to death.

Longer visits will then be permitted by the authorities between next Tuesday and Thursday, although no personal contact will be allowed.

It was unclear whether Mrs Nguyen will be permitted to see her son this Saturday and Sunday, which could be his final weekend.

Surrounded by barbed wire and tall fencing in the far eastern tip of the island state, Changi Prison is Singapore's main jail complex.

The imposing facility sits on the same site as the historic Changi Prison that was used by the Japanese to house Australian and other Allied POWs during World War II.

But the prison housing Nguyen, others on death row and ordinary inmates is a modern structure built in recent years.

The Law Council of Australia has added its voice to the campaign to save a Melbourne man on death row in Singapore.

Nguyen is scheduled to be executed next week for trafficking heroin.

His mother Kim and twin brother Khoa are in Singapore to say their final goodbyes.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government says it is doing everything it possibly can to stop the execution.

Federal Attorney-General Philip Ruddock says he discussed the case with the national president of Amnesty International.

"I've been a long standing supporter of Amnesty's mandate in opposition to the death penalty," he said.

"It's still used in a number of countries around the world, including developed countries like the United States. I don't think it's the mark of a civilised society."

Federal Justice Minister Chris Ellison says the Government is seeking advice in relation to the matter being dealt with the International Court of Justice.

Victorian Premier Steve Bracks says a prisoner exchange system with Singapore might be a solution in any legal challenge.

Under Mr Bracks' proposal, Victorian prisoners would be brought back to Victoria to be tried and sentenced under state law.

"Obviously our Government is opposed to the death penalty," he said.

"We would have preferred that matter to be heard and tried in Australia.

"Obviously it would be better to have an arrangement with other governments, including the Singapore Government, where you could have those matters heard in your own country and therefore the penalty proportionate to the crime."

Mr Bracks said the death penalty handed down to Nguyen did not fit the crime.

However, a government spokeswoman later clarified the Premier's comments, saying the Victorian Government accepted the situation had "moved on" because Nguyen had already been sentenced by a Singaporean court.

However, if Singapore granted clemency to the condemned man on the death penalty and imposed a custodial term instead, a prisoner exchange program could be implemented.

"If they agreed to prisoner exchange, we would accept the penalty that Singapore have imposed," she said.

Mr Bracks said Victorian Attorney-General Rob Hulls and Energy Minister Theo Theophanous were making direct representations to their counterparts in Singapore.

Earlier, Mr Bracks told Southern Cross Radio a business boycott would not help in saving the life of the drug trafficker.

"We need to bring every pressure we can to bear, but commercial pressure I don't think will work frankly.

"What's going to be effective is finding a solution which can, if you like, save face for the Singaporean Government, ensure that there's a punishment which fits the crime and we'd be part of trying to find that solution."

"HOW cool is that … how coooool is that."

This was Nguyen Tuong Van's reaction on hearing that Prime Minister John Howard had met his mother as he awaits execution in Singapore.

Nguyen, 25, was "completely blown away" when told on Saturday by his Melbourne lawyers that Mr Howard had seen Kim Nguyen last week.

"It was one of his favourite points and it was an important moment in our discussions," Lex Lasry, QC, told The Age yesterday. Mr Lasry and colleague Julian McMahon met Nguyen for 2½ hours.

Mr Howard agreed to a request from Nguyen's lawyers that he meet Mrs Nguyen after the Singapore Government refused her requests to meet a representative.

Mr McMahon said that after Nguyen lost his appeal for clemency last month, Mrs Nguyen was "bewildered and desperate".

But the meeting with Mr Howard, at his Gladesville electoral office, was of great comfort to her because she realised he was genuinely interested in her son's case and her plight.

Mr McMahon said Nguyen, who faces hanging on December 2 for heroin importation, was delighted to hear of Mr Howard's kindness.

Mr Lasry said that in his 32-year career he had never before experienced such courage, composure and resilience as that "of this young man who deserves to live".

THE BRACKS Government has beefed up its fight against the execution of Melbourne man Nguyen Tuong Van, using Singapore's multi-billion investment in Victoria's energy sector as a lever to appeal for clemency.

State Energy Minister Theo Theophanous has written to his Singaporean counterpart, Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang, urging him to spare the 25-year-old drug smuggler, who is to be hanged on Friday week.

The Government has already made its opposition to Nguyen's death sentence known but the letter is symbolically potent. SP AusNet — a subsidiary of the Singapore Government-owned Singapore Power — has about $4.1 billion worth of energy assets in Victoria and helps transmit electricity to more than 2.2 million consumers.

"While we welcome their investment, we think that the view of many Victorians who use the grid is for this young man to be granted clemency," Mr Theophanous said yesterday.

His comments came as unions met SP AusNet officials urging them to make formal representations to Singapore against the death sentence.

Australian Services Union assistant branch secretary Michael Rizzo said his union, which passed a motion two weeks ago condemning the sentence, was now considering its options after the company rejected its request.

Mr Theophanous' letter does not directly refer to Singapore's multi-billion dollar links with Victoria, nor the growing threats to boycott Singapore-owned companies such as SP AusNet, Optus and Singapore Airlines.

Instead, it tells Mr Kiang that while the issue "is a difficult one for you and your colleagues, I wish to place on record my view and the views of many Victorians who are seeking clemency for this young man for your consideration".

"I would ask that your Government grant clemency and spare this man from the death penalty," the letter says.

"I believe that such a decision would be welcomed by Victorians. I would be happy to discuss this matter directly with you on the telephone."

The letter had the backing of Premier Steve Bracks, and Mr Theophanous said he wrote it out of conscience. But industry figures say Singapore's links with Victoria are significant.

SP AusNet has 100 per cent ownership of Victoria's primary electricity transmission network and the company's current float offer is due to close on December 2 — the same day Nguyen is to be executed.

A Government source said yesterday it was "outrageous that the Singapore Government will be able to announce on December 2 a successful float of their business in Melbourne and a successful hanging of a Melbourne man at the same time".

An SP AusNet spokeswoman declined to comment.