| 5.1 |
The Committee supports the scope and content of the Agreement and considers it to be in the national interest. The Agreement provides a solid basis for encouraging dialogue, exchange and cooperative activities in an area of particular strategic importance. The Committee welcomes the inclusion of non-traditional security threats, such as natural disasters, in the Agreement. The Agreement also recognises the value of community understanding and people-to-people cooperation in improving mutual understanding of security challenges and identifying the appropriate responses to them. |
| 5.2 |
The Committee recognises the range of concerns that were raised in submissions and appreciates that the concerns have an historical basis. The Committee does not support disengaging from any area of joint cooperation with Indonesia as the best way to address those concerns. Engagement with Indonesia, with open and regular lines of communication, is the appropriate way forward and the Agreement provides at least one means through which this may occur. |
| 5.3 |
Noting the Lowy Institute 2006 Survey, the Committee believes there is a benefit in increasing public awareness in Australia of Indonesia. |
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Recommendation 4
The Committee recommends that the Australian Government engage in a campaign to increase public support for the Australia – Indonesia relationship. This campaign would have the goal of increasing awareness of the democratic reforms in Indonesia and the value to Australian security of strong relations with Indonesia.
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Recommendation 5
The Committee supports the Agreement between Australia and the Republic of Indonesia on the Framework for Security Cooperation (Mataram, Lombok , 13 November 2006 ) and recommends binding treaty action be taken.
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