A bishop close to the families of two Bali Nine members imprisoned in Indonesia is advocating for their repatriation, calling on Australia to “reach deeply into our humanity” to support a proposed deal.
Bishop of Townsville, Tim Harris, has supported the families of Scott Rush and Michael Czugaj since their arrests, even visiting the pair in Bali’s infamous Kerobokan prison.
Speaking to ABC’s RN Breakfast, Harris said he is “hoping and praying” that the deal comes together, but is “very conscious that we need to be very respectful of the Indonesian justice system”.
Scott Rush in a Bali courtroom in 2006.Credit: AP
“I think we, the Aussies, can be presumptuous, and I think what we’ve got to do is leave this in the hands of the Indonesians, respect their justice system.”
Harris reflected on the experiences of Rush’s parents, who he is in regular contact with, saying they have “suffered terribly”.
“They knew Scott and the Bali Nine had done wrong. They never condoned it. They committed a crime – and they’d still hold that view today – but in the midst of the messiness of this, a parent’s love is strong, as it should be,” Harris said.
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Harris said the group was “young and silly” when they agreed to participate in the drug importation plot, noting that the ringleaders had been executed.
“I think, as we reflect on all this, we acknowledge somewhere along the line that humanity is broken and it’s flawed and it’s fragile, and everyone makes mistakes,” Harris said, adding that members, including Rush, had apologised for their crimes.
“I think after 20 years, let’s reach deeply into our own humanity … we need to all go to our hearts now and look at the situation, reflect on it, and acknowledge that 20 years in a foreign prison is enough.”
Read more about the proposed deal to bring the Bali Nine back to Australia here.
