Foreign Minister Bob Carr says he hopes the "irregularities" reported about the Burma by-elections this weekend are minor.
Australia has sent a team of five to the country to work as observers and monitor the elections.
"We note the comments of Aung San Suu Kyi that there have been irregularities," Mr Carr told reporters in Sydney on Sunday.
"We're going to speak to her, we're going to speak to other figures in opposition about those irregularities.
"But it is clearly in the interest of Thein Sein, the country's president, to get international recognition for the modernisation of Burma.
"We're hopeful that any irregularities might be minor enough not to ... affect the outcome.
"But we'll withhold judgment until we're able to talk to other nations' observers. That may be as far off as a week."
Suu Kyi, the 66-year-old pro-democracy leader, has told a news conference that the irregularities went "beyond what is acceptable for democratic elections".
However, if the progress was genuine, Australia would be prepared to ease sanctions on the country, Mr Carr said.
Sanctions include bans on members of the government receiving Australian visas or being able to engage in transactions with Australian financial institutions.
"We've also got a ban on military cooperation," Mr Carr said.
