Sam Armytage asks important question about remaining Bali Nine members’ return to Australia

Nine’s new Today presenter Sam Armytage has pressed the Queensland Premier on whether his state would welcome the return of released Bali Nine drug smugglers.

Matthew Norman, Martin Stephens, Si Yi Chen, Scott Rush and Michael Czugaj flew back to Australia on a commercial Jetstar flight on Sunday and were temporarily housed at the Howard Springs quarantine camp.

“Some of these guys are from Queensland. Would you be happy if they resettled in Queensland,” Armytage asked Premier David Crisafulli on Monday morning.

Mr Crisafulli said wherever the men resettled, their integration into Australian society would take time.

“The integration process will be very difficult for them, make no mistake about that,” Mr Crisafulli said.

‘But a decision has been made. We must do everything we can to ensure that this integration takes place as best as possible.

“And I’m sure that’s something every Australian will agree with.”

Earlier, Crisafulli said that regardless of where the men went, he hoped the publicity surrounding their release would remind younger generations of the “enormous risks” associated with attempting to smuggle illegal drugs internationally.

“There will be a lot of young Australians who have never heard of the case, or have only heard of it in passing,” Crisafulli said.

‘I have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to drugs, and I have spoken about that a lot.

“And if highlighting this can remind people of the dangers of going abroad and trying to bring drugs back to the mainland, well, maybe this decision will shine a light on that and maybe in that small way prevent someone from goes there and does something. very, very stupid.’

After serving 19 years behind bars in Indonesia, the five returning Bali Nine members will no longer have to serve jail time in Australia.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese requested the men’s transfer during a recent meeting with new Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto at the APEC summit last month, who agreed to allow the prisoners to return home on humanitarian grounds.

Martin Stephens, Michael Czugaj, Scott Rush, Matthew Norman and Si Yi Chen watch their releases being signed by Australian and Indonesian officials before being flown back to Australia on Sunday

The men, along with Andrew Chan, Myuran Sukumaran, Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen and Renae Lawrence, were arrested in Bali in April 2005 when they tried to smuggle 8.3kg of heroin strapped to their bodies from the holiday island.

Leaders Chan and Sukumaran were executed by firing squad in April 2015.

Stephen’s former cellmate Nguyen died of cancer in 2018, while Lawrence was released that year after her life sentence was reduced to 20 years on appeal.

There were no emotional reunions or fuss when the men landed on a Jetstar flight in Darwin at 2.42pm on Sunday.

Their loved ones were aware of their impending return but were told by authorities they could not be there to greet them, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Instead, the men were bussed and transported to the Howard Springs facility, which was previously a quarantine center during Covid.

Armytage interviewed Queensland Premier David Crisafulli

They will spend a short period here to continue their rehabilitation before being reunited with their families.

The men will not be allowed to return to Indonesia in the future.

The five Australians will receive government support and medical care as they transition to life in the community.

It is believed there was no prisoner swap or any ‘quid pro quo’ with Indonesia as part of the men’s release.