Australia is likely to follow the United States in ordering new sanctions against Russia over a nerve agent attack in Britain earlier this year.
The US has determined Russia violated an international ban on chemical weapons during the attack on a former Soviet spy and his daughter, and will impose further sanctions on Moscow.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop was on Thursday asked if Australia would follow suit.
"This is a very serious matter and we will need to assess the full consequences of it," Ms Bishop told ABC radio.
"I believe the use of chemical weapons at any time, anywhere, under any circumstances is abhorrent. It cannot continue with impunity."
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Australia joined dozens of other countries in expelling two undeclared Russian intelligence officers following the Salisbury attack on Salisbury Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in March.
Russia has denied any involvement in the attack.
There are already sanctions in place against Russia in relation to its breaches of sovereignty in Ukraine and Crimea, with ongoing tensions between Canberra and the Kremlin over the downing of flight MH17.
"We will certainly take on board the US sanctions on Russia and consider our circumstances," Ms Bishop said.
