Policy Briefs
Indonesia and Australia: time for a step change
The relationship with Indonesia is one of Australia’s most important but it is still not on a firm footing. Government-to-government ties have been strengthening but relations are focused around a mostly negative set of security-related issues.
5 March 2010
Key Findings
- “The Australian government almost seems embarrassed or afraid to draw attention to its relations with Indonesia … Public perceptions of Indonesia present the Australian government with one of its most pressing foreign policy problems.”
- The relationship with Indonesia is of critical importance to Australia.
- Australia’s relationship with Indonesia is badly underdone at the government, business and people-to-people levels.
- Major leadership gestures are needed to try and jolt it back onto a more positive trajectory.
Executive Summary
Business-to-business links are underdone and mutual public perceptions are poor. Major incentives to drive closer ties are needed to ensure build one of Australia’s most important relationships.