The remaining Bali Nine have returned to Australia after nearly 20 years in an Indonesian prison – why now? | Tim Lindsey

The remaining members of the Bali Nine have been released from prison in Indonesia and returned to Australia .

The five Australians have served nearly 20 years of their life sentences for their involvement in a drug-smuggling operation.

The legal basis for their return is not yet clear because there is no prisoner transfer agreement between Indonesia and Australia .

But it is clear the transition from former president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to the country’s new leader, Prabowo Subianto , was key to this deal happening now.

There were one -on-one confidential negotiations between Albanese and Prabowo at the APEC Summit in Lima , Peru , in November .

These were followed by the home affairs minister Tony Burke ’s visit to Indonesia to negotiate directly with the coordinating minister for law, human rights and corrections, Yusril Ihza Mahendra .

The fact it led to the five men returning home, free, on Sunday is a reminder this way of operating is far more productive and effective when dealing with Indonesia .