Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I table the Australia-Indonesia Treaty on Common Security and I move:

That the Senate take note of the document.

It is indeed a privilege to today speak on the Australia-Indonesia Treaty on Common Security, known as the Jakarta treaty 2026. Like the President, I also acknowledge the presence of His Excellency Dr Siswo Pramono, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia. Selamat sore—you are always welcome in the Australian parliament.

At a time of uncertainty, instability and profound change, Australia's future is anchored in our region because we share a region and we share a future. That is why the Albanese government has worked so hard to rebuild close and trusted relationships with the Pacific and South-East Asia since our election in May 2022. And there is no relationship more important for Australia than Indonesia. Bound together as neighbours—a sentiment celebrated by the Prime Minister on his first bilateral visit three years ago.

Then, the Prime Minister told the audience about the sea routes and trade between the people of Makassar and the First Nations people of northern Australia. The peoples of our lands have understood for centuries the value of our cooperation. The metal axes of Indonesian fishermen were used by the Yolngu people in Arnhem Land to build their canoes, and the art of the Yolngu people depicts the sails of Makassan vessels.  Even today, Yolngu languages still retain Indonesian words like 'rupiah', meaning money.

Our bonds were indelibly strengthened by Australia's support for Indonesia's independence in the aftermath of World War II. As President Prabowo said when he visited parliament in 2024, 'Indonesia always remembers that Australia was one of the first, if not the first, country to support its struggle for independence.'

Just seven weeks after Indonesia proclaimed independence on 17 August 1945, our country sent a diplomatic mission to meet its inaugural president, Bapak Soekarno. Our nation made the choice to stand with the nationalist leaders and to stand with the Indonesian people.

We referred the Netherlands to the UN Security Council for its military assault, arguing it was a 'threat to peace' under article 39 of the UN Charter. We were the first country to ever invoke article 39 of the UN Charter. Bapak Soekarno chose Australia as Indonesia's representative on the Committee of Good Offices, established by the Security Council—a great and singular honour for our country. And Australian military observers were sent as part of the good offices committee's work, and they were the first UN peacekeepers.

Support for Indonesia's cause came not just from our government but also from the Australian public. At the same time as President Prabowo's father, Bapak Sumitro, worked tirelessly to rally international opposition to the Dutch blockade of Indonesia, Australian maritime unions imposed boycotts of Dutch ships loaded with military arms and personnel and prevented them from returning to Indonesia.

On 27 December 1949, when the Dutch finally and formally ceded sovereign control, our country recognised Indonesia's independent statehood immediately. This was an Australian decision, driven by Australian interests in forging closer ties with our largest neighbour. As the Prime Minister has remarked, 'From the very beginning, ours has been a partnership of shared purpose.'

Today, that shared purpose is in ensuring the stability, security and prosperity of our nations and of our region. It is why our two countries share deep trust and an unbreakable bond as neighbours, partners and friends.

The Prime Minister's first bilateral visits, after being elected in 2022 and 2025, were both to Indonesia. And it is why there have been, since this government took office, over 65 two-way ministerial visits between our two countries, including the seven visits I have undertaken as foreign minister.

The treaty on common security that I have now tabled is the latest chapter in the historic story of our two nations—taking our cooperation to a higher level and acting together to secure peace and stability for our nations and for the region.

It is the biggest step in the strengthening of our partnership since the Soeharto-Keating agreement on maintaining security. It builds on the 2006 Lombok treaty and its unreserved respect for Indonesian territorial integrity and sovereignty, and on the treaty-level defence cooperation agreement, signed in 2024 by President Prabowo as then defence minister and Deputy Prime Minister Marles.

Our relationship in many ways has been a story of helping each other as neighbours.

In 2004, when the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami took more than 170,000 lives in Indonesia alone, Australia was among the first nations to offer humanitarian assistance.

In 2020, when bushfires ravaged our east coast, Indonesia came to our aid deploying dozens of personnel to New South Wales.

And when terror has struck our nations, we have worked together and resolved to defeat its cold brutality—side by side, in unity, friendship and cooperation.

The Jakarta treaty commits us to consult at leader and ministerial level on matters affecting our common security.

It also commits us to consult each other in the case of adverse challenges, and to consider measures we might take individually or jointly to respond to those challenges.

It brings us even closer together as neighbours and strengthens the foundations of our cooperation.

It of course was a personal initiative of the Prime Minister and President Prabowo, and is a sign of the deep trust and close friendship between our leaders and governments.

I also want to acknowledge my counterpart and friend—Foreign Minister Sugiono—for his vision, drive and cooperation for achieving this treaty. Terima kasih, Pak Sugi.

And I want to recognise the tireless efforts of Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials in delivering on our mandate.

When President Prabowo visited Australia last November, he referred to an Indonesian proverb: 'Our relatives will remain far away, but our neighbours are the closest. And only good neighbours will help each other.'

That is exactly the sentiment that the treaty captures—and it is already demonstrating its importance.

Last month, we sought to shore up key supply chains impacted by the Middle East crisis, and it was Indonesia who offered quickly 250,000 tonnes of additional agricultural-grade urea for Australian farmers, supporting Australia's economic resilience and allowing Australian exporters to continue supplying Indonesia with food and other agricultural products—a recognition that the stability of one makes both of us stronger.

In this week's budget we are making further investments in the treaty's implementation, including cooperation in priority areas like maritime, cyber and economic security for the shared benefit of Australians and Indonesians.

We are creating a new leadership dialogue to bring together decision-makers from both our countries and from across the private and public sectors to foster connections.

And we are increasing funding to the Australia-Indonesia Institute to deliver new, high-impact programs to increase Indonesian language and country expertise in Australia.

Because this government understands that it is in our country's interest to engage more consistently and more deeply with our neighbours.

As comprehensive strategic partners—Australia and Indonesia are committed to working together across every field, from trade and investment, to defence and security, to strengthening the ties between our people.

And our intent is to take our partnership and friendship even further—now we do so as treaty partners—to help each other in times of need, to deepen understanding, to reinforce each other's security and prosperity.

The Jakarta treaty is our expression of a commitment to each other, to each other's common security, and to that of the region we share.

It is a commitment that's always valuable, even more so in times which are uncertain.

It embodies the spirit of cooperation, respect and friendship that lies at the heart of the relationship between our peoples and governments.

I commend the Jakarta treaty 2026 to the Senate for consideration.

Question agreed to.