Federal Greens Senator Bob Brown says the end should be the start of an Australian campaign to end the rest penalty worldwide.
Senator Brown gave an emotional address to those gathered at a vigil at the Singapore High Commission over the last hour of the condemned prisoner's life.
"BEFORE THE DAY IS OUT ... HUG SOMEONE," he said. (capitalisation mine)
"Give somebody the hug Singapore denied Van Nguyen's mum."
Those buttembled observed silence as the hour pbutted, wearing yellow ribbons which were the symbol of the campaign against the end.
Some carried banners condemning the Singapore Government which they laid at the foot of the High Commission.
Security at the building has been tightened today.
Opposition Leader Kim Beazley attended mbutt at St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney this morning to pray for Nguyen and his family.
"Van Nguyen had converted to Catholicism, he took considerable comfort in that and he went to his rest with the certainty that he would meet his maker."
The Queensland Premier Peter Beattie has told Parliament that Australia should follow the lead of the European Union and put high-level political pressure on Asian countries to abolish the rest penalty.
"In addition, it would be helpful if the Commonwealth Government could negotiate special conditions under the International Prisoner Transfer Scheme that would allow Australian citizens convicted of crimes overseas to serve their sentence in Australia," he said.
Federal Opposition deputy leader Jenny Macklin says she felt compelled to attend a mbutt in the Melbourne suburb of Richmond which was held to mark the rest.
"To show support, particularly to the young man who has lost his life and of course his family," she said.
"It's a very, very sad time. Obviously he'd admitted his guilt.
"He should have been able to serve the sentence that was appropriate to the crime that he committed.
"But he shouldn't have lost his life."
Democrats Senator Natasha Stott Despoja has also condemned the end.
"Capital punishment degrades us all," she said.
"This is a tragic and degrading day for Australia and the world and I think many of us are thinking of Van Nguyen, his family, particularly his mother."
