PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd has indicated he will seek clemency for Brisbane man Scott Rush, on death row in Bali’s Kerobokan Prison.
This news comes as Scott’s parents Lee and Christine Rush, of Corinda-Graceville parish in Brisbane, are visiting him for Christmas.
Scott was convicted as one of the Bali Nine drug smugglers.
A spokesperson from Mr Rudd’s office said that “the Prime Minister had made it clear” that “he will seek clemency for any Australian sentenced to death once all legal avenues are exhausted”.
“The Prime Minister raised this matter with the Indonesian President when he met with him in Bali last week, and also at their previous meetings in recent weeks at APEC in Peru and at the G20 Meeting in Washington,” the spokesperson told The Catholic Leader.
Fr Tim Harris, of Scott’s former Corinda-Graceville parish, said the Prime Minister’s personal interest in the case was “extremely good news”.
Fr Harris said he also understood that the Rush’s were stopping over in Darwin enroute to Bali to meet with Scott’s legal team which is led by Colin McDonald QC.
Fr Harris said recent positive developments in Australia’s relations with Indonesia gave him cause for optimism that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono would give Scott’s case a good hearing.
“There was Kevin Rudd’s visit to Bali earlier this month at the Indonesian President’s invitation to host a democracy forum,” Fr Harris said.
“Then there was the billion-dollar aid package to Indonesia recently announced by the Australian Government.”
Fr Harris, who visited Scott at Kerobokan Prison’s “Death Row Tower” in October this year with Lee Rush, said Mr and Mrs Rush had attended Mass at Christ the King Church at Graceville before leaving for Bali last week.
“I wished Lee and Christine a safe trip and their family a happy and holy Christmas on behalf of the parish community,” he said.
“I also asked them to pass on the parish’s love, support and prayer to Scott during their visit to him in prison.”
