Indonesia and Australia Engage in Talks to Enhance Cooperation Efforts

Indonesia and Australia Engage in Talks to Enhance Cooperation Efforts

Antara, The Gulf Observer: Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H. Laoly held discussions on enhancing bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and Australia during a meeting with Australia’s Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Cyber Security, Clare O’Neil.

The meeting, convened in Jakarta on Tuesday, saw Minister Laoly highlighting the productive nature of the working group meeting on immigration needs, regularly conducted with Australia. Minister Laoly informed that Indonesia is currently expediting airport immigration processes through automated checks and stressed the significance of information exchange on border checks.

Emphasizing the need to bolster the capacity of immigration institutions in both countries, Minister Laoly underscored the critical importance of information sharing to safeguard borders. He reiterated the imperative to implement the Adelaide Strategy on law enforcement, encompassing an inter-stakeholder approach, information exchange, border management, victim protection, migration management, and combating human smuggling, as agreed upon during the 2023 meeting in Adelaide, Australia.

Additionally, the ministers delved into discussions regarding the plight of Rohingya refugees. Minister O’Neil expressed Australia’s willingness to contribute to resolving the issue, seeking insights from Minister Laoly on potential avenues for assistance.

Minister Laoly highlighted the challenges posed by suspected human trafficking syndicates in addressing the Rohingya refugee crisis, noting the complexities faced by Asian countries in finding a resolution. Indonesia, while not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, maintains robust cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in handling refugee matters and has been accommodating refugees from conflict-affected countries.

The meeting underscored the shared commitment of Indonesia and Australia to address mutual concerns, strengthen collaboration on immigration issues, and explore avenues for regional cooperation in addressing humanitarian challenges, such as the Rohingya refugee crisis.