|
Australia
has a national interest in supporting a successful and prosperous
Indonesia
and optimising co-operation with Indonesia
in regional and international forums. Relations with Indonesia
were one of the Howard Government’s key foreign policy
priorities. Indonesia,
which has a population of about 230 million, is one of Australia’s
closest northern neighbours. It has had an uneven development
record, and the activities of a small number of terrorist groups
have adversely affected both countries. The diversity of Australia’s
foreign policy objectives necessitates a delicate balancing
in relation to several issues that have arisen in Australia’s
relations with Indonesia.
Australia’s
role in East Timor’s struggle for independence
in 1998–99 resulted in a period of tension between the two countries
at that time. Since then, however, relations have been significantly
repaired. Indeed, out of tragic events such as the October 2002
Bali bombings, the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami, and the 2005 Sea
King helicopter crash on Nias, opportunities for extensive co-operation
between the two countries have emerged. Relations have also
been facilitated by the election of Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono as president, his leadership of a
competent, moderate government
and the positive contacts between Yudhoyono and then Prime
Minister John Howard (who attended the President’s
inauguration in October 2004).
The period from late 2002 has been
marked by consolidation of Australia–Indonesia relations at
a government-to-government level, notwithstanding challenges
associated with: Australia’s stance on the global war on terror,
illegal Indonesian fishing boats in Australian waters, Papuan
asylum seekers, and reactions within Australia to the Indonesian
judicial system’s treatment of terrorists and Australian citizens
Schapelle Corby and the ‘Bali nine’.
Yudhoyono’s bilateral visit to Australia
in April 2005 enabled negotiations about the development of
a new security treaty—the
‘Lombok
Treaty’. The two countries signed the treaty, which is designed
to address traditional and non-traditional security threats,
on 13 November 2006. Some analysts
expressed concern about the terms of the treaty, suggesting
that it may raise unrealistic expectations in Indonesia about
the Australian Government’s capacity to moderate debate on sensitive
political issues in bilateral relations.
Australia
and Indonesia
cooperate on issues including counter-terrorism, illegal fishing,
people smuggling, avian influenza, climate change and inter-faith
dialogue. Australia’s
sustained commitment to targeted development assistance has
also provided a positive focus for the relationship. Nonetheless,
there is a pressing need for an improvement in people-to-people
relations. This might involve providing resources to the education
sector to foster informed and constructive mutual understanding
between Australians and Indonesians. However, a sharp decline
in the study of Indonesian language in Australia
will not assist such initiatives.
|
