'Significant step' in push to repatriate Bali Nine

The remaining members of the Bali Nine drug smuggling ring could soon return to Australia under a draft deal struck with Indonesia as both sides laud goodwill. There was hope a final deal could be reached as soon as possible, Indonesia's minister for law Yusril Ihza Mahendra said in a joint press conference after meeting with Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke in Jakarta on Tuesday. Some details, including a lack of relevant laws allowing for a prisoner transfer, needed to be worked through before a final deal could be reached, Mr Mahendra said. A draft proposal was handed to Australia during the meeting. "We hope that we can finalise this matter ... this December," he said. That an Indonesia proposal was handed over during the meeting was "a significant step forward and shows significant goodwill", Mr Burke said. Impediments within both legal systems were discussed. "I have full respect for the Indonesian legal system and approach the conversations with a great deal of respect and a great deal of humility," he said. "There are ... some issues which have not yet been resolved and that work will continue between our officials." The Australians were arrested in 2005 after trying to smuggle heroin and five members remain behind bars serving life sentences in Bali. They include Scott Rush, Matthew Norman, Si-Yi Chen, Martin Stephens and Michael Czugaj. 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. Jakarta is reportedly seeking the repatriation of Indonesian prisoners held in Australia as part of any deal.