Five members of the Bali Nine have begun the process of reintegrating into Australian society after almost two decades in an Indonesian prison.
Matthew Norman, Scott Rush, Martin Stephens, Si Yi Chen, and Michael Czugaj returned to Australia after the federal government struck a deal with Indonesia to release the men, who had been serving life sentences on drug smuggling charges.
A statement issued on behalf of the men said they were “relieved and happy” to be back and thanked Australian government officials who had worked to secure their release over many years.
“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.”
Indonesia’s government said the five were transferred from Bali with the status of “prisoner” on Sunday morning and landed in Darwin.
Jakarta said it had not granted pardons.
“They will now have the opportunity to continue their personal rehabilitation and reintegration here in Australia,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement on Sunday.
The repatriated Australians were among nine arrested in 2005 after attempting to smuggle heroin.
Albanese said their return “on humanitarian grounds” reflected Australia’s strong bilateral relationship with Indonesia.
He said he had thanked Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto “for his act of compassion.”
“Australia respects Indonesia’s sovereignty and legal processes and we appreciate Indonesia’s compassionate consideration of this matter,” he said.
The five men were placed in temporary accommodation and will be afforded government assistance to help them reintegrate into Australian society.
Liberal Senator Hollie Hughes was scathing of the men’s release.
“I’m sure those Australians doing it really tough at the moment will be just thrilled to know that their taxpayer dollars are going to pay for this,” she told Sky News on Monday.
“I feel very badly for families who had children or loved ones lost to heroin addiction, which was what these drug smugglers were trying to bring back to our country.
“They would have wreaked death and destruction for a whole lot of families and I think that’s been overlooked here.”
Education Minister Jason Clare said most Australians would agree it was time the men came home.
“These men committed a very serious crime—drug trafficking—and they have done serious time; 19 years in an Indonesian prison,” he told ABC news.
“They lost a big chunk of their lives for the crimes committed.”
Indonesia’s senior minister for legal affairs, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, said the transfer was “reciprocal in nature.”
“If one day our government requests the transfer of Indonesian prisoners in Australia, the Australian government is also obliged to consider it,” he said.
The five are banned for life from entering Indonesia, Yusril said in a statement.
Indonesia has said it would respect any decision by Australia when the prisoners returned home, including whether to grant pardons.
Bali Nine ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed in 2015, sparking a diplomatic incident with Australia, while Renae Lawrence was released in 2018, and Tan Duc Than Nguyen died of cancer the same year.
