Remaining members of notorious Bali Nine arrive in Australia

A religious leader with a close connection to the Bali Nine says it’s not going to be an “easy road” for the convicted drug smugglers back in Australia.

A religious leader with a close connection to the Bali Nine says the release of the remaining men is fair and they should now be given the chance to rebuild their lives.

The remaining five members of the drug smuggling ring have returned to Australia after spending nearly 20 years in Indonesian jails following a top secret release mission.

Si Yi Chen, 39, Michael Czugaj, 38, Matthew Norman, 38, Scott Rush, 39, and Martin Stephens, 48, touched down in Australia on commercial flights on Sunday evening as free men.

Townsville bishop Tim Harris, who was formerly the parish priest of the church that Rush and Czugaj attended, told Sky News he was “very happy” the men had returned home.

Bishop Harris has been in close contact with the Rush family in particular since the initial arrests.

The bishop had spoken to Rush’s father in the past 24 hours, saying the elder Mr Rush was relieved but was working on how the family would receive their son.

Bali Nine members Scott Rush, Matthew Norman, Si-Yi Chen, Martin Stephens, and Michael Czugaj have arrived in Australia.

The five remaining members of the Australian Bali Nine drug ring flew home on Sunday after 19 years in jail in Indonesia. Picture: AFP / Indonesia's Coordinating Ministry for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections

“It’s not going to be an easy road. Who’s going to employ them? … Are they going to live with this stigma for the rest of their lives?”

The remaining members of the Bali Nine should be given the chance to rebuild their lives.

“Justice has been done … there’s only so many times you can use a sledgehammer to crack a nut; these nuts have been cracked.

“I think the time is right. I absolutely believe these individuals have done their time and now we give them an opportunity on home soil … to give them a second chance.

“This is a humanitarian issue.”

NSW Liberal Party senator Hollie Hughes said the newly released smugglers were lucky not to face the firing squad.

“Yes they have served a very, very long time. But they are very lucky that they did not receive what Indonesia did dish out to two of the Bali nine, which was the death penalty.”

Taxpayers would be annoyed public funds were used to get the convicted drug smugglers home, the senator told Sky News.

“I feel very badly for the families who’ve had children or loved ones lost to heroin addiction, which is what these drug smugglers were trying to bring back to our country.

“They haven’t done their time as per the Indonesian justice system … everywhere you go walking through those airports in Indonesia it spells out very, very clearly that the penalty for drug smuggling is death.”

Senator Hollie Hughes says the smugglers are lucky not to have been executed. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Governments led by Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull, and Scott Morrison lobbied for the release of the Bali Nine over the years.

On the eve of Sukamaran and Chan’s executions, Mr Abbott said the Indonesian government should spare the men given Australia’s $1bn aid package after the Boxing Day tsunami.

Speaking on Monday, Labor MP and Assistant Immigration Minister Matt Thistlethwaite said justice had been served.

“I think it’s the Australian government standing up for the interests of Australians,” he said.

“It’s purely about standing up for Australians and their families. They’ve served a decent and term and have certainly recognised the error of their ways and those Australian families will be reunited in time for Christmas.”

“No one is excusing their behaviour,” he said, before Ms Hughes spoke over him: “They haven’t served their sentences.”

The five men will not face future imprisonment in Australia over their attempt to smuggle 8.3kg of heroin out of Bali into Australia in 2005.

The release arrangement with the Indonesian government has not been described as a clemency deal, and Australia does not have a prisoner transfer agreement with Indonesia.

A statement released on behalf of the former prisoners overnight said they were “relieved and happy” to be back in Australia and thanked those who had worked to secure their return.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the return of the remaining members of the Bali Nine on Sunday. Picture: ABC

“In both Australia and Indonesia, at both a senior level and in prison visits and personal assistance, over many years, DFAT have offered professional and enduring support. The men and their families will always be grateful,” the statement read.

“They look forward, in time, to reintegrating back into and contributing to society.

“The welfare of the men is a priority, they will need time and support, and we hope and trust our media and community will make allowance for this.”

Anthony Albanese confirmed the men’s return on Sunday.

“The five men committed serious offences, serving over 19 years in prison in Indonesia,” the Prime Minister said in a joint statement with Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke.

“We would like to convey our deep appreciation to the government of Indonesia for its co-operation to facilitate the men’s return to Australia on humanitarian grounds.

“This reflects the strong bilateral relationship and mutual respect between Indonesia and Australia. The Australian government has consistently advocated for the men and provided consular support to them and their families.

“The men will have the opportunity to continue their personal rehabilitation and reintegration in Australia.

“We ask that the media respect the privacy of the men and their families at this time.”

An Australian diplomat has the remaining five members of the Bali Nine signed into Australian custody. Picture: Supplied

It’s understood the Australian government has provided temporary accommodation for the former prisoners to ensure they are able to access medical and other support services.

The arrangement was struck after years of advocacy by Mr Albanese, who recently broached the topic with Indonesian Prime Minister Prabowo Subianto at the sidelines of the APEC Summit in Lima on November 15.

In a separate statement, Mr Albanese acknowledged the five remaining members of the Bali Nine had “committed serious offences” but said it was “time for them to come home”.

“Australia respects Indonesia’s sovereignty and legal processes and we appreciate Indonesia’s compassionate consideration of this matter,” he said.

“The five men committed serious offences. Australia shares Indonesia’s concern about the serious problem illicit drugs represents.

“The government will continue to co-operate with Indonesia to counter narcotics trafficking and transnational crime.”

Bali Nine ringleader Andrew Chan was executed in 2015. Picture: Bintoro Lukman S

Fellow Bali Nine ringleader Myuran Sukamaran was also executed in the same year. Picture: Bintoro Lukman S

He also thanked President Subianto for facilitating the deal.

“I want to express my gratitude to President Prabowo for Indonesia’s co-operation and commitment to working with Australia on this matter,” he said.

“I have conveyed my personal appreciation to President Prabowo for his act of compassion.”

The ringleaders of the Bali Nine operation, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed in 2015, while Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen died in 2018 from stomach cancer.

Another member, Renae Lawrence, was released in 2018 after spending 13 years in jail.