Bali Nine have served ‘more than enough time’ says Qld advocate
A Queensland supporter of one of the Bali Nine drug smugglers says returning the group to Australia to be with loved ones will make a difference in their rehabilitation.
The remaining members of the Bali Nine drug smuggling ring have served enough time and should be rehabilitated in Australia, says a long-time prominent supporter.
The Australians were arrested in 2005 for attempting to smuggle heroin out of the Indonesian resort island.
Five remaining members – Scott Rush, Matthew Norman, Si-Yi Chen, Martin Stephens and Michael Czugaj – have been serving life sentences in Bali for their involvement.
The federal government is having ongoing discussions with Indonesian counterparts to negotiate the repatriation of the five to serve the remainder of their sentences in Australia.
Bishop of Townsville Tim Harris has been in contact with Rush’s family for the past 19 years, revealing they are cautiously optimistic their son may be returned to Australia.
“It’s great news, and if this comes off there will be so much relief from the anguish of the last 20 years,” he told ABC Radio on Monday.
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Bishop Harris said the remaining Bali Nine members have served “more than enough” time in prison but reiterated that he did not condone their actions two decades ago.
He said Rush’s parents are “desperately praying” their son will be released to Australia, saying it is the “right thing to do”.
“I’m talking about humanity and there’s a certain requirement for fellow human beings to reach deeply into our hearts at this moment and say, ‘Look, enough is enough, let’s get these people home’,” Bishop Harris said.
Trade Minister Don Farrell confirmed on Sunday the discussions were ongoing, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese advocating for the group during a meeting with the Indonesian president at the APEC Summit in Peru.
Under the deal, Jakarta would seek the repatriation of Indonesian prisoners held in Australia, the country’s Law Minister Supratman Andi Agtas told Reuters on Saturday.
Jakarta had no set procedures regarding international prisoner transfers but would work on the matter as soon as possible, Supratman said.
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Bishop Harris said he hoped discussions between the nations were productive however, he added Australia should not demand the release but rather work respectfully with the Indonesian justice system.
He said being surrounded by friends and family should be of great support to the remaining members if they returned to Australia.
“I think that will make a huge difference… I know it will,” he said.
“To be surrounded by their loved ones with the love that they need to kind of be rehabilitated.”
However, Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said it was not helpful for anyone to be speculating about the Bali Nine’s release.
“I’m sure that the families of these remaining Australians that are in jail in Bali would love to see them on Australian soil as soon as possible,” she told Seven Network’s Sunrise.
“But any sort of speculation really is counterproductive at a time like this.”
The five remaining Bali Nine members have served 19 years in prison in Bali.
Another member, Renae Lawrence, was released from prison in 2018 and Tan Duc Than Nguyen died of cancer the same year.
The execution of two of the group’s ringleaders, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, in 2015 caused a diplomatic rupture between Australia and Indonesia.
Australia recalled its ambassador in protest.
