Freed Bali Nine members aren't 'national heroes or political captives', Dutton warns

They were convicted for attempting to smuggle 8.3 kilograms of heroin from Bali in 2005 and have served 19 years behind bars.

Speaking to media today, Dutton drew on his experience as a police officer, saying he witnessed overdoses and crimes committed by drug-induced people.

“These people aren’t national heroes, they’re not political captives, they have been serving a sentence because according to the laws of Indonesia, they broke those laws and they were imposed with a heavy penalty,” he said. 

“I just think it should be a very, very significant message to every young Australian – whether you’re travelling overseas, or if you’re just staying here in Australia – that drugs, the use of drugs, the use of the distribution of drugs, there’s no good that comes from it.

“Heroin is a particularly evil drug, as we know. It’s mind-altering, and 20 years ago, if you think back, the deaths from heroin and the impact that that had on our society are profound.”

Dutton urged Albanese to be transparent about the details of the deal but welcomed home the five Bali Nine members.

“From a personal perspective, for those individuals and their families, you can understand that they’ll be overjoyed to be back in Australia for Christmas,” he said.

“So the Australians are back, we welcome them home, but there should be a very clear message to every young Australian; these people have had 20 years of their lives lost, and don’t put yourself in that same position and don’t be selling drugs.”

The two ringleaders of the Bali Nine, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, were executed by a firing squad in 2015.

In 2018, Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen died in prison from cancer and Renae Lawrence was released and returned to Australia. 

The remaining five were serving life without parole before their release late last week.

Albanese expressed his gratitude to the Indonesian president after the members landed in Australia on a Jetstar flight on Sunday.

“I have conveyed my personal appreciation to President Prabowo for his act of compassion,” he said in a statement.

“The five men have been returned to Australia under an arrangement agreed between our two countries.

“These Australians served more than 19 years in prison in Indonesia. It was time for them to come home.”