Australian MPs Strengthen Links with Indonesia

The 24-27 August visit by a delegation of Australian parliamentarians represents another step forward in strengthening ties and mutual understanding among lawmakers in both countries, Australia’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Bill Farmer, said today.

The delegation, led by Tasmanian Senator John Watson, and including Victorian MP Bob Sercombe and Western Australian Senator Ross Lightfoot, is visiting Jakarta under a long-standing reciprocal visits program.

Mr Farmer said the visit was important in ensuring members of Australia’s Federal Parliament and the DPR had a better understanding of developments in each others’ countries, and of each country’s respective foreign and trade policies.

“Indonesia and Australia are both robust and open democracies and members of parliament will discuss issues such as drafting and enacting laws, public consultation and cooperation between the two parliaments,” the Ambassador said.

“Our respective parliaments play an active role in international issues and have helped shape the very strong relationship Australia currently enjoys with Indonesia. The Australian Parliament has, for example, completed processes to enable Australian ratification of Framework Agreement on Security Cooperation between Australia and Indonesia (the Lombok Treaty). The treaty has now been sent to the DPR for examination. We welcomed the presence of a number of Indonesian DPR members in Lombok for its signing late last year,” Mr Farmer said

The delegation will meet DPR Speaker Agung Laksono, MPR Chairman Hidayat Nurwahid, senior members of the Indonesian Regional Assembly (DPD) and members of the local Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Group.

The Australian parliamentarians will also discuss democratic reform issues with a range of local civil society groups and review bilateral commercial ties with members of the Indonesia-Australia Business Council (IABC).

Trade between Australia and Indonesia has grown steadily in recent years. Current annual two-way trade is worth about A$10.4 billion, with Indonesia enjoying a merchandise trade surplus with Australia of A$135 million. Prime Minister Howard and President Yudhoyono agreed in Bali in July to study the feasibility of a bilateral Free Trade Agreement, which was recommended by business leaders in both countries.

Further information:
John Williams (Counsellor, Public Affairs) Tel. (021) 2553 5290 mob. 0812 1053 989