As the Chan and Sukumaran families prepare to bring their sons’ bodies home the Australian Federal Police has responded to growing criticism about their role in the original Bali Nine drug arrests.

The AFP says they do take international death penalties into account before tipping off foreign agencies.

Roxanne Jeynes reports.

TRANSCRIPT

Indonesia has barely reacted to Australia’s unprecedented move to withdraw the foreign ambassador.

The Jakarta Government continues to defend its death penalty stance, warning Australia from taking any further action.

There are now concerns the rift could affect our dealings with Indonesia.

Bill Farmer, Former Australian Ambassador to Indonesia: “It’s a real headache, a serious headache, in a most important relationship for us for a long time.”

It’s uncertain what actions Indonesia may take.

But some say Australia stands to lose more, especially in trade.

Keith Suter, Sunrise foreign editor: “The Australian Government has very few options because we can’t cut off trade links with Indonesia because it will hurt Australian farmers.”

Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce says Australia needs to be discerning.

He’s called for a national debate on the death penalty.

Barnaby Joyce, Agriculture Minister: “I do get approached by people saying ‘well that might be your view Barnaby, that you don’t support the death penalty, but it’s not our view’.”

And now the Australian Federal Police is under fire.

The Greens have joined Independent Nick Xenophon, in a bid to investigate the AFP’s decision to tip-off Indonesian authorities about the Bali Nine back in 2005.

Meanwhile, the families of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran are in the Indonesian capital waiting for the final, heart-wrenching journey, back home.

Catholic priest Charlie Burrows witnessed the execution.

He says the pair remained calm to the very last.

Fr Charlie Burrows, Priest: “There was no crying because I’d say the dominant thing in their mind was to lessen the suffering of the people being left behind. They didn’t want them to suffer anymore.”

It is expected the bodies of the two men will arrive in Sydney tomorrow.

Roxanne Jeynes QUT News.