Michaelia Cash calls on Anthony Albanese to ‘be upfront’ over reported return of Bali Nine prisoners

Anthony Albanese has been issued a “please explain” over the details of a reported deal which will return the remaining five Bali Nine prisoners who were jailed for attempting to smuggle 8.3kg of heroin out of Indonesia in April 2005. The Prime Minister has long advocated for the return of the remaining five prisoners Si Yi Chen, Michael Czugaj, Matthew Norman, Scott Rush and Martin Stephens, to be transferred back to Australia, and most recently lobbied Indonesian Presdient Prabowo Subianto for their release at the G20 Summit in Brazil last week. However, shadow Attorney-General Michaelia Cash said it was “almost inexplicable” that Mr Albanese had not explained the “significant decision”. “Let’s be clear in the first instance, these individuals, Australians, were part of are a heroin smuggling ring to bring back into Australia in excess of eight kilos of heroin,” she told Sky News. “Drug offences are some of the worst offences our society sees because of the devastating consequences on people, including death. ‘But … given this seems to have escalated over the last 24 hours, it is now for Prime Minister Albanese to stand up in the front of the Australian people and (explain). “He needs to be upfront with the Australian people. What’s the nature of the deal? Who’s paying for it? What’s Australia giving up in return? And will they or won’t they continue to see the base of their sentence in Australia.” While Senator Cash did not go as far in opposing discussions, she questioned why it was a priority for Mr Albanese, adding that Indonesia’s harsh penalties for drug possession and trafficking were well known. “If you’re asking me, would this have been a priority of a government I am in, a priority for me is dealing with the cost of living crisis that the Australian people are under as a result of Mr Albanese and his government’s actions,” she said. “I think this is a timely reminder for any Australian about to get on a plane over the Christmas period and go to Bali, it is Indonesia, it is their laws under which you are being tried, and their sentences are tough.” As it stands, neither Mr Albanese or Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s office have publicly commented on the negotiations, however, on Saturday Indonesian Law Minister Supratman Andi Agtas told Reuters his government had agreed to the deal and would also be seeking the repatriation of Indonesian prisoners held in Australia. Trade and Tourism Minister Dom Farrell said it was the role of Mr Albanese to “represent the interests of Australians abroad”, and noted the discussions were “ongoing”. “The proposal isn’t, as I understand it, to release these people. They would continue to serve their sentence, except they’re serving them in Australia,” he told Sky News on Sunday. “It’s clear that the Prime Minister has advocated on behalf of these young Australians, and we’ll see what happens in the in the days and the weeks ahead.” Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young also criticised Senator Cash’s comments as being “cruel and heartless”. “If you want a glimpse of what a Peter Dutton government will look like, this is it,” she said. “Don’t be fooled of Dutton in lamb’s clothes.” Of the original Bali Nine members, the group’s ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed by firing squad in 2015. In 2018, Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen died in prison from stomach cancer. Renae Lawrence also had her sentence commuted and was released in November.