Five Australians sentenced to life imprisonment on drug smuggling charges are looking to "reintegrate into society" after nearly two decades in Indonesian prison.
after the federal government worked on their release following convictions over an attempt to smuggle 8.3kg of heroin from Indonesia to Australia.
Two of the nine were executed in Indonesia, one other died from stomach cancer, and a fourth was granted parole in 2018.
Listen to the update on the Bali Nine here:
Remaining members of Bali Nine return to Australia
Who are the Bali Nine?
The Bali Nine were nine Australians who were convicted for their roles in a drug smuggling ring in 2005.
Andrew Chan and four others were arrested at Denpasar Airport on 17 April 2005. Scott Rush, Michael Czugaj, Renae Lawrence and Martin Stephens had 8.3kg of heroin strapped to their bodies.Myuran Sukumaran, Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen, Si Yi Chen and Matthew Norman were arrested at a hotel in Kuta.What happened to the Bali Nine?
Chan and Sukumaran were accused of being the ringleaders of the group and were sentenced to death by firing squad, a punishment which was labelled "cruel and unnecessary" and conducted in April 2015.
Lawrence — the only female member of the Bali Nine — was sentenced to life, then reduced to 20 years, had her sentence commuted and was released in November 2018.
Nguyen was given life imprisonment, reduced to 20 years on appeal, and died from cancer in Jakarta in June 2018.
Chen, Czugaj, Norman, Rush and Stephen were sentenced to life. The former three had their sentences reduced to 20 years, with all five returning to Australia on Sunday.
What have the members of the Bali Nine said since repatriation?
A statement issued on behalf of the men said they were "relieved and happy" to be back and thanked Australian government officials who had worked to secure their release over many years.
"The men and their families will always be grateful," the statement said.
"They look forward, in time, to reintegrating back into and contributing to society.
"The welfare of the men is a priority; they will need time and support, and we hope and trust our media and community will make allowance for this."
What have politicians said about the repatriation of members of the Bali Nine?
Anthony Albanese thanked Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto "for his act of compassion" in releasing the five men.Education Minister Jason Clare told ABC: "These men committed a very serious crime — drug trafficking — and they have done serious time; 19 years in an Indonesian prison. They lost a big chunk of their lives for the crimes committed."Liberal senator Hollie Hughes told Sky News: "I feel very badly for families who had children or loved ones lost to heroin addiction, which was what these drug smugglers were trying to bring back to our country."With additional reporting from Agence France-Presse and the Australian Associated Press
