Australian Parliamentarians Visit Jakarta and East Kalimantan

A high level parliamentary delegation has arrived in Jakarta today to continue strengthening relations between the parliaments of the largest democracies in South East Asia, Indonesia and Australia.

Australia’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Paul Grigson said the visit to Jakarta and Balikpapan by the two senators and two members of the House of Representatives of the Australian Parliament, follows the successful visit to Jakarta last week by Trade Minister Andrew Robb.

"This latest delegation is part of regular official exchanges between our two parliaments. This visit will include high-level discussions regarding democratic institutions, but also give the delegation an opportunity to see first hand how Australia and Indonesia are working together on education, countering radicalisation, and on people-to-people links.

"The delegation will meet with senior leaders of the People's Consultative Assembly of the Republic of Indonesia (MPR) and the Regional Representative Council (DPD), and also visit Australian businesses working in Indonesia," Ambassador Grigson said.

The delegation comprises Senator Chris Back of Western Australia, Senator Anne Urquhart of Tasmania, Mr Ewen Jones MP, Queensland and Mr Stephen Jones, from New South Wales.

During this exchange of parliamentarians, the delegation will greet Australians and Indonesians who have just returned from the annual Conference for Australian and Indonesian Youth (CAUSINDY), which this year was held in Darwin.

While in Jakarta the delegation will visit a mosque and Madrasah school, and in Balikpapan the group will meet Australian alumni, local businesses and lay a wreath of the site of the Oboe landings during World War Two, where Australian soldiers fought alongside Indonesian forces to defend Kalimantan from the Japanese.