Joint Statement The Meeting of the Indonesia-Australia Ministerial Council on Law and Security
Jakarta, 21 December 2015
On 21 December 2015, the Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, HE Luhut B Panjaitan, the Indonesian Minister for Law and Human Rights HE Yasonna H. Laoly and the Australian Attorney-General, Senator the Hon George Brandis QC and Minister for Justice and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Counter-Terrorism, the Hon Michael Keenan MP met in Jakarta, Indonesia, for the inaugural Indonesia-Australia Ministerial Council on Law and Security.
The Ministers commended the long-standing bilateral cooperation on law and security issues between the two countries, guided by the principles of the Framework for Security of Cooperation (the Lombok Treaty) 2006 and its Plan of Action 2008. Further, the two sides reaffirmed their continued commitments to enhance bilateral cooperation in these areas. The Ministerial Council on Law and Security extends and completes the existing bilateral architecture and will now be the primary forum to discuss matters of domestic law and security, in particular counter-terrorism. The Ministerial Council complements the Indonesian and Australian Foreign and Defence Ministers Meeting (2+2 Dialogue) which is the primary forum to discuss defence and strategic issues.
Noting the growing security challenges posed by acts of terrorism as highlighted by recent tragic events around the world including in both Indonesia and Australia, the Ministers underscored the need to further strengthen bilateral efforts including in counter terrorism, intelligence sharing, technical cooperation, and cyber security. Ministers therefore called on both sides to explore key areas for future work including strengthening legislation, law enforcement cooperation, countering terrorist financing, countering violent extremism, intelligence sharing and enhancing cooperation in capacity building. It was agreed that Indonesian senior officials would visit Australia in the near future to discuss ways to further enhance bilateral intelligence cooperation to counter terrorism threats.
On counter terrorism, the Ministers welcomed the recent signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Combating International Terrorism between then Indonesian National Counter-Terrorism Agency (BNPT) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Sydney, 21 December 2015, as well as the Arrangement on Cooperation in Preventing and Combating Transnational Crime between the Indonesian National Police and the Australian Federal Police. The Ministers also recalled the positive outcomes of Australia’s Regional Summit to Counter Violent Terrorism in Sydney, June 2015, as well as the Counter-Terrorism Financing Summit in Sydney, November 2015. In this regard, the Ministers encouraged both sides to fully implement the commitments made during these meetings including through capacity building efforts to combat violent extremism, developing counter messaging strategies against extremist propaganda particularly through social media, as well as enhanced sharing of financial and related information to combat illicit financial flows to terrorist organisations. It was agreed that senior officials would have ongoing bilateral technical discussions to enhance understanding of illicit financial flows to counter terrorist financing.
On foreign terrorist fighters, the Ministers underscored the need for enhanced cooperation in addressing the growing threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters to domestic and regional security. The Ministers therefore called on both sides to further strengthen cooperation on education and training, exchange of information and analysis, as well as technological capabilities, particularly through the Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation (JCLEC).
On cyber security, the Ministers agreed to undertake further cooperation in this area to strengthen their respective cyber security capabilities, among others through enhanced collaboration between the Indonesian National Desk for Information Resilience and Cyber Security and the Australian Cyber Security Centre.
The Ministers noted that in November 2016, the two countries’ cooperation within the framework of the Lombok Treaty will enter its 10th year. In this spirit, both sides reaffirmed their continued commitment to materialising the vision of the Lombok Treaty through well-coordinated and sustainable cooperation in addressing various global security challenges bilaterally as well as regionally.
On the next meeting, Australia commended Indonesia for the excellent preparation and hosting of the inaugural Indonesia-Australia Ministerial Council on Law and Security. It was agreed that Australia would host the next annual meeting of the Ministerial Council in Sydney in 2016. It is envisaged that the Council will meet in their respective countries annually thereafter.