Opposition leader Peter Dutton says Bali Nine men no ‘heroes’ despite ‘relief’ of their return to Australia
Peter Dutton has said the five remaining members of Bali Nine do not return home as “heroes” and their almost two decades in prison is a stark warning about the consequences of breaking drug laws overseas.
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The five remaining members of Bali Nine do not return home as “heroes” and their almost two decades in prison is a stark warning about the consequences of breaking drug laws overseas, Peter Dutton says.
The Opposition leader said the “most important message” from the saga was for young Australians travelling to Bali or elsewhere in the world was that “you can make a decision which can result in 20 years of your life being taken away from you”.
“These people don’t come back as heroes of our country, they haven’t been in political captivity,” Mr Dutton said.
“They have been sentenced under the rules of law that operate in that country for trying to import heroin.”
Scott Rush, Matthew Norman, Michael Czugaj, Martin Stephens and Si Yi Chen touched down in Darwin on Sunday after Indonesia agreed to return them to Australia on compassionate grounds.
The five men were first arrested alongside four other Australians in 2005 trying to smuggle more than 8kg of heroin out of Bali.
Mr Dutton acknowledged “twenty years is a long time” and the transfer of the prisoners back home to Australia would be welcomed by their families.
“At a personal level, and for their families, particularly coming into Christmas, you can understand the excitement and the relief that they’ll have,” he said.
The former prisoners are currently staying at the Howard Springs Accommodation Village, a federal government facility about 20km south of Darwin, where they have voluntarily agreed to spend a short period of time to continue their rehabilitation.
But ultimately there are no legal grounds for their detention going forward, and they will be able to reunite with their families as free men.
The cost of the commercial flights and accommodation is being funded by the taxpayer, though it is understood there will be some charges passed onto the five members.
The group flew on a Jetstar flight from Bali to Darwin, which currently retails at about $98 per person for one ticket.
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek defended the government’s decision to offer diplomatic support to Australians abroad, including convicted criminals like the Bali Nine members.
“That’s what any Australian who gets in trouble overseas would expect,” she said.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers confirmed there was no “quid pro quo” with Indonesia in exchange for the transfer of the remaining imprisoned members of the Bali Nine.
“This was an act of co-operation and compassion from (Indonesian) President Prabowo,” he said.
“They government is very grateful … for his co-operation and his commitment to working with Australia in this instance.”
Mr Chalmers said the Bali Nine had made some “serious mistakes” and committed “serious offences”.
“But they have served the best part of two decades in prison in Indonesia, and it was time for them to come home,” he said.
“They did the wrong thing, they did the time, and now they’re home.”
A statement released on behalf of the former prisoners late on Sunday night said they were “relieved and happy” to be back in Australia and thanked those who had worked to secure their return.
“They look forward, in time, to reintegrating back into and contributing to society,” the statement said.
Bali Nine ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were sentenced to death and executed on 29 April, 2015.
Tan Duc Than Nguyen died in a Jakarta hospital in 2018, while the only woman of the group Renae Lawrence, was released in 2018 after her life sentence was successfully reduced to 20 years on appeal.
Bayside Church pastor Christie Buckingham said after more than a decade advocating for the five Bali Nine members as a pastor, councillor and friend their release was a “significant and humbling milestone”.
“I am delighted and grateful Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto made the transfer a reality,” she said.
“It is a moment which represents a second chance — an opportunity for these men to reintegrate into society, contribute meaningfully, and demonstrate the growth they have undergone over two decades.
“Their journey has been one of profound reflection, resilience, and redemption.”
Ms Buckingham walked alongside Bali Nine member Myuran Sukumaran as his spiritual advisor in the final moments before his execution in 2015 and through Melbourne’s Bayside Church she has continued to campaign against capital punishment internationally.
She said it was her hope the experience of the remaining men who had been returned would be a “powerful reminder of the devastating consequences of poor choices”.
“But it should also stand as a testament to the ensuring possibility for transformation,” she said.
“These convicted Australians made a mistake and have paid the price over almost two decades of incarceration.
“I thank the Indonesian and Australian governments for their co-operation in facilitating this return and for the compassion shown.”
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