‘Unbelievable’: Australians slam Bali Nine deal

Anthony Albanese is under fire for appearing to prioritise the Bali Nine over more pressing issues at home. Have your say.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been slammed for going into bat for the remaining members of the Bali Nine, rather than tackling the most pressing issue for most ordinary Australians – the cost of living crisis.

The five remaining members of the Bali Nine jailed in Indonesia for drug smuggling arrived back in Australia as free men after spending 19 years behind bars.

Scott Rush, Matthew Norman, Michael Czugaj, Martin Stephens and Si Yi Chen flew into Darwin on Sunday afternoon, following negotiations led by Mr Albanese.

Michael Czugaj in custody during his trial in Bali in 2010.

However, Aussies have been less than enthused with the news, with many saying the Prime Minister was out of touch with what people want, in particular help with skyrocketing living costs.

Readers responding to the story on The Daily Telegraph said Mr Albanese was the “most out of touch person in the country”, while another said it was “unbelievable we have got so many other issues and they waste time and money on this”.

“SO Albo bring DOWN my POWER, INSURANCE, GOVERNMENT FEES, ETC,” one reader called Maria wrote.

“Well, that should help me pay my next gas & electricity bills,” another commenter called Steve said. “Thanks Albo. Still focused on the wrong issues.”

Another reader, David, said Labor was a “soft weak kneed government”.

“How about the pressing urgent domestic issues that you seem to not care about?” he wrote.

Others also questioned why the Australian government was paying for criminals’ accommodation and medical treatment.

And many were suspicious of what Mr Albanese had promised Indonesia in return for the prisoners and whether the move to release them was a ploy to win over voters in the upcoming federal election, due to be held before May next year.

“Wonder if Albo has his fingers crossed hoping this will turn the polls in his favour?” one reader using the name Maggie May wrote. “News flash! It will turn undecideds against you.”

While the majority of the 2000 readers commenting criticised the Prime Minister’s part in the release of the prisoners, there were a few supporting it, arguing the drug smugglers had done their time.

Convicted Australian drug smugglers (L-R) Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen, Si Yi Chen and Matthew Norman, three of the Bali Nine, sit in a courtroom during their appeal trial at Denpasar District Court in Bali, June 2007.

“These people were young and dumb,” Iain said. “They’ve served more than enough time and deserve an opportunity to rebuild a meaningful life.”

The government has long been advocating for the “compassionate” return of the five men, who were arrested alongside four other Australians in 2005 trying to smuggle more than 8kg of heroin out of Bali.

Bali Nine ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were sentenced to death and executed on April 29, 2015.

Another member, Tan Duc Than Nguyen, died in a Jakarta hospital in 2018.

The sole woman of the group, Renae Lawrence, was released in 2018 after her life sentence was reduced on appeal.

For the remaining five members, Australia had argued for a “sentence conversion” to the equivalent standard in their home country where “life” equates to about 20 years’ imprisonment.

Originally published as ‘Unbelievable’: Australians slam Bali Nine deal