The federal government is under growing pressure to adopt an 'opt-out' approach to organ donation to boost hopes for those needing life-saving transplants.

The system would mean anyone's organs could be harvested and used for medical procedures after their death - unless they have specifically requested to be excluded from the donor register.

It is already in use in Spain, and being considered in the UK, where it has already won the backing of Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Advocates in Australia say it could be crucial to combatting the country's low rates of organ donation.

Brad Cooper, a double transplant recipient whose life was saved by a donated liver after he developed sarcodosis four years ago, believes many more critically-ill patients would benefit if a 'presumed consent' system was introduced here.

'Positive step forward'

"There are a lot of people waiting for organs and some are not very fortunate, and if this is something that can increase the rates, then it has to be a positive step forward," he told SBS.

Australia has one of the world's best success rates for transplant surgeries, but only five per cent of Australians are registered donors - one of the lowest figures among developed countries.

Organ donation campaigner Allan Turner set up charity Zaidee's Rainbow Foundation after his seven-year-old daughter died suddenly of a burst blood vessel on the brain.

The decision to donate her organs saved the lives of seven other people, and he has spent the past four years encouraging more people to register as a potential donor.

"I think the low rate is disgusting in this country," he explained.

Deaths on transplant list

"We have so many people who die, and who die in a situation where they can be organ and tissue donors, but unfortunately they don't talk about it before it happens."

But Health Minister Nicola Roxon has so far all but ruled out following Spain's lead.

"I don't think we are anywhere near that sort of process here in Australia," she said.

"There are things we can do to make it easier for family members to make those decisions, but that's a long way from where we are in Australia."

More than 1,800 Australians are waiting for organ transplants. One third of those are likely to die before an organ becomes available.