Scott Morrison to rethink visa entry for Indonesians

Scott Morrison announces he’ll reassess entry conditions to Australia, amid a range of agreements with Indonesia.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Scott Morrison at a joint press conference in Canberra on Monday. Picture: Gary Ramage

Scott Morrison has announced he will reassess harsh visa entry conditions for Indonesians travelling to Australia as he welcomes Indonesian President Joko Widodo to Parliament House.

The Prime Minister also used the joint address with Mr Widodo on Monday morning to announce that superannuation funds would be encouraged to invest in Indonesia, and that Monash University will establish its first foreign campus in the country, as more details of a bilateral agreement are revealed.

“Australia is very much a fellow traveller when it comes to our shared outlook on the Indo Pacific region and seeing its economic potential, its people to people potential, the breaking down of barriers that exist across our wonderful region, the strategic, defence and security co-operation.” Mr Morrison said.

“Indonesia will be one of the star economies of the world over the next 10 to 20 years, and this arrangement, this mutually beneficial arrangement, will ensure that our economy is linked for this exciting period of growth in the years ahead,”

“Today we have agreed to include new elements as part of this implementation. We are pleased that our Home Affairs Minister here in Australia will be engaging with his Indonesian counterpart to proceed to look at how we can simplify and streamline the issues of entry into Australia.

“We also agree to reconsider and look at the issues of travel advice in Indonesia, particularly for those areas most frequented by Australian visitors. Indonesia is a very large country with a very large population, and we need to ensure that we have this flexibility that respects and understands that, and we thank the president and his ministers for raising these issues with us.”

On investment in Indonesia, Mr Morrison said: “The Treasurer today reinforced the opportunity for Australian pension funds, superannuation funds, to be looking at the opportunities that exist in Indonesia, as they do in many other countries around the world, and we see that investment partnership is a key part of how the agreement will be realised.”

On education and a new Monash University campus, Mr Morrison said: “We will be working together on science, research, technology and sharing our view of the future energy sources for both of our countries, and we look forward to that partnership for energy in Australia and Indonesia, but also how that might broadly lead our region. Monash University will establish its first foreign campus in Indonesia under this agreement, and that is an indication of how this is a two-way street.”

Mr Morrison also mentioned strategic security partnerships in the region, including a “shared commitment to sovereignty, stability and respect for the rule of international law” regarding the South China Sea.

Mr Widodo said the new agreement “means going forward economic relations between the two countries will grow and bring more tangible benefits for the people.”

Mr Widodo will address a joint sitting of parliament later on Monday.