George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you very much, Senator Mason, for your continued interest in this very difficult issue. The government and all members of parliament remain deeply concerned about the situation. As honourable senators would be aware, on 4 March, Chan and Sukumaran were transferred to the jail in the Nusakambangan complex in Central Java. DFAT officials have facilitated visits to the two men by their families. The Prime Minister has also spoken by telephone with the families of Mr Chan and Mr Sukumaran.

Following the decision of the State Administrative Court of Indonesia about the rejection of a clemency plea, lawyers for the two men lodged an appeal against this decision on 2 March, which is currently pending. There are currently two legal avenues underway. First is the appeal against the final rejection of the clemency plea. There are also judicial commission hearings underway in relation to allegations of bribery and corruption at the original trial of Mr Chan and Mr Sukumaran.

The state administrative court will hear the appeal—that is, the first of the two avenues to which I referred—on 19 March, later this week. The Foreign Minister has advised that it is her understanding that further plans for the executions would not proceed while those legal options are being pursued. And, indeed, as well as that the government through the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister, myself, the Minister for Justice and senior officials have entreated the Indonesian government on many occasions now to spare the lives of these two Australians.