Australia probes Russian chemical weapons

Foreign Minister Marise Payne says the reports are extremely concerning.

"If they are confirmed that will be a further wholesale breach of international law," Senator Payne told reporters in Sydney on Tuesday.

"(It's) a further indication of President Putin and Russia's absolute violation of every single value and every aspect of the rules-based global order which has stood us in such good stead for so many decades now."

Australian officials were working with counterparts to determine the veracity of the reports.