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IT true such as: According to a recent survey from Sydney’s Lowy Institute, some 64 percent of Australians, including businesspeople, still harbor degree of mistrust or misunderstanding of Indonesians, an issue that must be addressed if we really want to build business and trade opportunities, as well as meeting our regional security needs.
Plus, I been to Indonesia 2 times, and I have never had the restrictions an Indonesian who wishes to come to Australia as a tourists. The challenges an Indonesian who wishes to visit Australia is: Indonesian tourists have to apply for a visa prior to coming here on vacation. Currently, each Indonesian national must pay A$140 just to apply for the visa, which also requires each person to complete a 15-page questionnaire where even children need to answer questions such as, “Have you been involved in acts of genocide?” and “Have you been involved in terrorism or human trafficking activities?” Only then can the application be submitted, followed by a wait of anywhere between 14 days and three months, for either the approval or refusal. In the latter case, the full amount paid is forfeited. Indonesians currently enjoy access to 70 visa-free destinations to where they can travel, resulting in the majority of Indonesia’s young and mobile generation placing Australia close to the bottom of their holiday destination list.https://thediplomat.com/2022/06/its-...-at-indonesia/
Plus when I went to Indonesia, I had some uninformed Australian claim they are all muslim, another told me the people are anti Australian. Sure it a minority, but there is a great deal of misinformation here in Australia regarding Indonesia. With that; There's a lot of fear and loathing of Indonesia as a large populous muslim country to our North.
Yet at the same time so many Australians see it as a cheap place to vacation and it cheaper to fly and holiday there than for someone from NSW or Victoria to go to Queensland on holidays.
I think that the complexities of the vjsa process are worked out on a risk assessment basis where the likelihood of overstaying is considered. This is certainly not only a process confined to Australia. Actually when we first took our kids to the US we had to apply for expensive visas and fill out forms to say why we would need to return home, and whether we had been involved in various types of criminal activities. We had to go to the consulate in Sydney in person to collect our visas.
Most people I know do not have a lot of opinions about Indonesia, other than about Bali. Which tends to greatly polarise people.
I think that the complexities of the vjsa process are worked out on a risk assessment basis where the likelihood of overstaying is considered. This is certainly not only a process confined to Australia. Actually when we first took our kids to the US we had to apply for expensive visas and fill out forms to say why we would need to return home, and whether we had been involved in various types of criminal activities. We had to go to the consulate in Sydney in person to collect our visas.
Most people I know do not have a lot of opinions about Indonesia, other than about Bali. Which tends to greatly polarise people.
The US still asks questions about engaging in terrorism and genocide on its visa waiver application. I think you are right about the visa process relating to chances of overstaying. I remember seeing one country that actually published the threshold level for overstaying to remove a country's citizens from visa free entry.
I'd say the reason Indonesia is off the radar for most people is, excluding Bali, it's extremely undeveloped for tourism relative to almost every country around it, and there is not a large Indo ex-pat community in Australia. A few years ago we went on a trekking holiday to Borneo (absolutely incredible part of the world, btw). The difference between Malaysian Borneo and Indonesian Borneo in terms of infrastructure (tourist and just generally) was like night and day.
I would day the distrust and ignorance on both sides is mutual. One can't really blame Indonesia's distrust of Australia on many fronts. We are an oddity in a sense in this part of the world with very little similarity in values or in political insight. Australia probably needs Indonesia more than vice versa looking into the future.
There has been so much talk on the Australian side of fostering this relationship for decades, but little seems to eventuate.
Indonesia is well down the immigration list of migrants to Australia and education numbers are low considering the geographic nearness.
The future though suggests Australia will need to lift its game on deepening relations and not being so focused on China .
I think a lot of it goes back to the East Timor days as well.
Indonesia illegally occupied that territory, and then put in Pro-Jakarta “militias” to control it.
A lot of Australians haven’t forgotten that, and Indonesia also resented Australia interfering there, and helping to liberate the territory.
Currently they also have human rights issues in West Papua (formerly Irian Jaya), as they own half of the island of New Guinea.
As others have said, there isn’t a big Indonesian expat population here in Australia either.
Tourism is still a big draw card to places like Bali, and may continue to grow post-Covid, and help rebuild the relationship.
Ironically I have only been to Bintan Island, which was about an hour or so ferry trip from Singapore, and a purely westernised tourist and resort destination.
Back in 2015, there was also the issue involving the execution of the ringleaders of the Bali 9. At the time, Tony Abbott pleaded with his Indonesian counterpart to spare them the death sentence, to no avail.
In the grand scheme of things, this is a minor point, though it did cause an uproar, at the time.
The extension of Sharia law is a concern regarding Indonesia. Although there is nominal freedon of religion, "[b]ut the new law passed by the country's House of Representatives states that the customs of the Minangkabau, the largest ethnic group in West Sumatra Province, are based on the philosophical values of "Shariah law, and Shariah is based on the Quran."
The new law can be seen as meaning all residents in the province could find themselves under increasingly strict local laws rooted in Shariah.
In 2021, a school in the provincial capital, Padang, caused controversy when it passed a requirement for female students of all faiths to wear the hijab. In 2016, parts of the province allegedly banned Christians from openly celebrating Christmas, according to complaints from local residents, and in 2018, the city of Pariaman passed a "public nuisance" law that targeted the LGBT community."
I would day the distrust and ignorance on both sides is mutual. One can't really blame Indonesia's distrust of Australia on many fronts. We are an oddity in a sense in this part of the world with very little similarity in values or in political insight. Australia probably needs Indonesia more than vice versa looking into the future.
There has been so much talk on the Australian side of fostering this relationship for decades, but little seems to eventuate.
Indonesia is well down the immigration list of migrants to Australia and education numbers are low considering the geographic nearness.
The future though suggests Australia will need to lift its game on deepening relations and not being so focused on China .
Well Indonesia is South East Asia biggest economy. It has rising middle class, a predicted economic growth of 5 per cent in 2023 and an economy which is projected to be the fourth largest in the world by 2045, it is an imperative for both the Australian private and public spheres to take a second look at the Indonesian business market.https://www.internationalaffairs.org...-a-fresh-look/
Yes Indonesia is a very important trade partner for Australia and it will grow in the future.
Regarding immigration, when Indonesia became independent over 70 years ago from the Netherlands, its Dutch Indonesian people, mostly migrated enmass to the Netherlands,. Australia at that time strongly discouraged Dutch Indonesian peoples, because Australia was following the White Australian policy, and had a one drop rule as the Dutch Indonesian people were mostly mixed Euro/INdo people. However during WW2 many Dutch Indonesians came to Australia as refugee and Australia did welcome them, yet only the condition the non White people from Indonesia would be sent back there asap after the war.
The Dutch INdonesian community in the Netherlands is the biggest ethnic minority there and represent 1.5 to 2 million people, and have very successfully intergrated in Dutch society, and have never caused any problems in the Netherlands, apart from certain ethnic groups from some Indonesian islands that moved to the Netherlands in the 1970s, but today there are no problems with INdo people there. Dutch can say certain ethnic groups can cause problems in the Netherlands but not ever heard a Dutch complain about Indonesian people.
It is easier for an Indonesian person to go to the Netherlands and migrate there than Australia, due to the common historical links.
Global superpower concept if Indonesia had any extra land space+ islands. Ending up as India's own power. Surrounding poverty roughness is still quite apparent. Even while redeeming. Pakistan is an Indonesia! Much bigger than expected! Is Indonesia at least reaching appropriately rated compared to Pakistan's extreme Underrated status to visit? Indonesia is also comparable to Vietnam that may barely leave a satisfactory amount of Third World negative stereotypes that is still found in India, Pakistan.
Of course Java, even Bali in relation to Sumatra, Borneo, Sulawesi that has millions of citizens. Remotely isolated, poorer.
For Australians, I am seeing that Bali is thought of/experienced the most. Kind of mesmerizing Java Island almost took a back seat. The Indonesian Ladies/Girl head dress Hijabs is literally worn as a ubiquitous religion even in Malaysia! So, I assume even extra widespread on MOST Indonesian islands. Especially on Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi. That is a very different look from Celtic/Diverse Oceania Australia.
Had no idea about this on the Netherlands. Really? Even exceeding the Demographic of immigrant arrivals from Indonesia into Australia. Are the Indonesians in NL appearing Muslim traditional? Kind of a lot such as France.
With 2 hours 30 minutes DIRECT airplane ride AUS Darwin-Denpasar Bali.
Tenggara Islands Of Indonesia is even closer! Less than 2 hours/or even <1 hour. Such as Darwin-Kupang of Timor only 500-600 Miles. Cape York Of Bamaga Queensland AUS to Merauke Papua island side of Indonesia is 30-40 minutes with airplane/281 miles. Could almost jet ski, motor boat, through the Torres Strait.
Saw more Indians, Vietnamese than Indonesians in Australia.
Most Indonesians in Netherlands are not Muslim. It is estimated that 1/10 have Indonesian heritage. A large majority of Indonesians migrating to Netherlands till recently were Catholics and Christians. Yet for many of the mixed race Indons it is hard to distinguish them from other Dutch as many of them have blue eyes and blonde hair. It is common for professional Dutch soccer players to have Indonesian heritage. Yet the most infamous Dutch Indonesian is Geert Wilders who founded the far right party of the Netherlands who aims to stop and expel Muslims from the Netherlands. When he came to Australia a few years ago, it did cause a storm and it was very controversial. He did help launch the far right anti Muslim party "Australian Liberty Alliance". These days more and more Muslims from Indonesia have moved to the Netherlands, yet they have not caused any real problems there.
In some Islands of Indonesia and West Paupa a majority of the people are of Christian and Catholic faith. BTW there are more Christians and Catholics in Indonesia than Australia.
If Indonesia had higher widespread Christianity on all islands, is this going to encourage extra improved relations to Celtic Oceania Australia? Respective Continent, and Race are still at friendly odds with each other. Ending up like a Philippines. Is AUS familiar allies to PH?
Malaysia might almost be radical or majority Muslim even further than Indonesia according to exact original expectations/perception before visiting. Almost are twin countries that belong together. Who knew!? Is the title also realistically applicable to Australia-Malaysia? Probably, a bit less of the alienation than with Indonesia. Yet, fair/not hostile. Considering the exotic degree of separation.
While Australia has around 25 Million, Indonesia is with! 200 to 290 Million! 10X+ with less land area! Really can't believe just 4th behind China, India, USA! Almost appears crowded! with borderline third world developing roughness compared to first World/developed/wealthy/Western/still very Asian friendly/wide open spaces Australia.
Actually there are many places in Indonesia that are not crowded. A large majority of Indonesians live in Jawa, Sumatra and Bali. BTW Indonesia is building a new capital city in Borneo and that island is not crowded. The reason why Indonesia is building a new capital there because Jakarta is too crowded and too polluted, plus its sinking.
I did not understand all what you said, but I would say Indonesians and Malaysians are not hostile to Australia, when I encounter them over there, they are curious about Australia and Australians.
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Really can't believe just 4th behind China, India, USA! Almost appears crowded! with borderline third world developing roughness compared to first World/developed/wealthy/Western/still very Asian friendly/wide open spaces Australia.
