Bipartisan push for Bali Nine clemency

Two federal MPs will launch a bipartisan push to seek the early release of the five remaining Bali Nine prisoners nearly 16 years after they were first arrested.

Liberal MP Dave Sharma. Picture: Gary Ramage

Two federal MPs will launch a bipartisan push to seek the early release of the five remaining Bali Nine prisoners nearly 16 years after they were first arrested for drug smuggling.

Labor’s Graham Perrett will co-sponsor a motion to parliament with Liberal MP Dave Sharma urging the government to work with Indonesia to secure sentence reductions for “the five reformed Australians”.

The remaining Bali Nine prisoners, Si Yi Chen, Michael Czugaj, Matthew Norman, Scott Rush and Martin Stephens, are all serving life sentences.

Mr Perrett, who counts Rush’s parents among his constituents, said the five Australians were all reported to be model prisoners.

“My son was born the day Scott was arrested. Now my son is two inches taller than me and is turning 16 on the 17th of April,” the Brisbane-based MP said.

“So I am very aware of how long Scott has been in jail. Every birthday reminds me of how much he has suffered. Ultimately I would hope the president would offer a pardon. Or if he had a 20-year sentence, he could see four years from now there would be some possibility of daylight.

“I call them the ‘Reformed Five’. They’ve all learned from the experience and judicial system.”

Indonesia executed Bali Nine ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran in 2015. Renee Lawrence was released in 2018, and Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen died in custody the same year.

Mr Sharma said it was hoped the statement would “appeal to Indonesia’s sense of humanity and compassion”.

“We are very clear that we are very respectful to the Indonesian judicial system, and their prerogatives and sovereignty there. And we recognise the offences they committed are a scourge on society,” he said. “It is intended to be helpful and encouraging, not critical or antagonistic, and I ­expect it will be seen in that way.”