Albanese sends strong signals that he gets it

Anthony Albanese’s mission is to leave no doubt in Joko Widodo’s mind that he takes the relationship seriously as he seeks deeper ties to Southeast Asia.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Perth before travelling to Indonesia on Sunday. Picture: Matt Jelonek/Getty Images

Anthony Albanese has engaged a full court press on his first visit to Jakarta. His mission is to leave no doubt in Joko Widodo’s mind that he takes the relationship seriously as he seeks deeper ties to Southeast Asia.

It would have been his first foreign visit had it not been for last week’s Tokyo meeting of the Quad that had been locked in long before the election.

In the space of two weeks, the new Labor Prime Minister will have covered off leader-to-leader meetings with our closest ally, the US, our most important bilateral relationship, Indonesia, and our most important strategic partners in the Indo Pacific (India and Japan). This is an impressive start on the international stage for Albanese, who could have been tempted to remain at home to focus solely on the domestic agenda and critical challenges facing the country.

What leaders may not appreciate in opposition but quickly come to learn on transitioning into government is that while they might want to focus on domestic affairs, they have to keep constant focus on the international as well.

The fact Albanese has made these trips very early into his leadership, while dispatching Foreign Minister Penny Wong to the ­Pacific, sends a strong signal that he gets it.

The decision to expand the annual leaders meeting with the Indonesian President into a high level ministerial and business delegation will be noticed. The key to deepening the relationship remains primarily an economic one.

Albanese also goes to Indonesia knowing Widodo already. They have met before, and he has travelled to Indonesia as a minister in the Gillard government and as opposition leader in 2019.

The personal relationship is ­vitally important. Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison have left Albanese a strong foundation of engagement, with the elevation of the relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership and the signing of a trade agreement under the former Coalition governments.

Albanese will want to demonstrate something just as symbolic and substantive. At the same time, there are prickly issues he cannot ignore when he meets with the President on Monday.

The overall discussions are expected to be very positive, with the conversation focused on greater economic integration and business investment, increased aid, infrastructure development, trade, climate resilience and economic recovery from the pandemic.

But there are several key security and human rights issues where Australia and Indonesia are less than united. One is Russia. Canberra’s positioning on Russia under Morrison has been strident but Jakarta hasn’t always been on the same page.

Albanese needs to raise this tactfully with Widodo, while supporting Indonesia’s role as chair of the G20 this year amid the prospect of Vladimir Putin’s attendance triggering potential boycotts by other member nations.

The second issue on which Australia and Indonesia aren’t necessarily singing from the same song sheet is China.

Albanese needs to make it clear, accepting Indonesia’s more nuanced position, that while under a new Labor government in Australia there may be policy changes on things such as climate change, Canberra intends to continue countering malicious activity and maintaining its policy on the South China Sea.

Without labouring the point, Albanese would want to leave Widodo with no doubt that Australia will continue to be a leading voice on these issues and the broader strategic threat.

Other Southeast Asian nations expect Australia to continue this.

There is also the issue of Papua.

Albanese, of course, needs to be delicate on how he handles these issues but they need to be raised nevertheless.