In a statement released after Lines appeared before Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday, Mr Hawtin said he is 'profoundly relieved' his two children are safe 'after six long years'.
'This has been a cruel and exhausting struggle, my mother and I have been through hell, but we never gave up and we never would have,' he said.
Mr Hawtin said the extradition of Lines to Australia came after 'years of hard work and a determined effort' by the South Australian police's major crime branch.
'The complexity of this operation is hard to overstate, and what they have achieved – working across international jurisdictions and coordinating with numerous other agencies – deserves special recognition.'
He praised 'the moral courage and strength of character' of the police and said his family 'still faces a lot of challenges ahead.
'These new challenges will require an equally committed effort, as we work to pick up the pieces and rebuild a childhood for my children.'
