Justice in Indonesia strengthened through partnership with Australia

Official judicial cooperation between Indonesia and Australia was today renewed for a further 12 months, building on the already strong partnership between the close neighbours.

Indonesian and Australian court officials today met in Jakarta to renew the Australia-Indonesia Partnership for Justice’s Memorandum of Understanding.

Funded by the Australian Government through AusAID since 2008, the partnership has enabled courts in both countries to share experiences regarding access to justice, enhancing judicial capacity and improving court business processes such as the handling of cases and recording of court judgments.

According to Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Indonesia, Dr Harifin A. Tumpa SH MH, there have been great gains from this close relationship, with both countries facing similar issues in improving access to justice in their respective communities.

“The Federal Court of Australia and the Mahkamah Agung (Supreme Court of Indonesia) have been partners since 1999. As this relationship has grown, so too has the recognition that many of the judicial reform issues faced by our Indonesian colleagues are the same as those faced in Australia,” said Chief Justice of the Federal Court, the Honourable Patrick Keane.

Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia, the Honourable Diana Bryant said that the Family Court of Australia has been honoured to work with the Supreme Court of Indonesia to learn more about their judicial system.

“It is very important to the development of all courts to share our experiences and to look for ways to improve access to justice particularly for those in the community who are underprivileged and marginalised. Much of the Family Court’s work in Indonesia has focused on improving court access for women headed households and I am very pleased with the progress that has been made.”

This judicial cooperation and dialogue between Indonesian and Australian courts has allowed detailed analysis of issues facing the courts to be discussed frankly and strategic responses developed and evaluated.

Copies of both the revised Memorandum of Understanding and the 2011 Annex are available on the Federal Court of Australia website: www.fedcourt.gov.au and the Family Court of Australia website: www.familycourt.gov.au.

Media enquiries:
Mia Salim, AusAID Indonesia, 08121070237