Scott Morrison pays tribute to Malcolm Turnbull’s good relations with Jakarta

Scott Morrison has paid tribute to his predecessor Malcolm Turnbull for fostering closer relations with Indonesia.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks to students in Jakarta today. Picture: AAP

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has paid tribute to his predecessor Malcolm Turnbull for fostering closer relations with Indonesia ahead of his first meeting with President Joko Widodo, and promised “continuity” in building up one of Australia’s most important regional and economic partnerships.

Mr Morrison flew into Indonesia last night and will meet President Jokowi at the Presidential Palace in Bogor, south of Jakarta, this afternoon where the two leaders are expected to announce the conclusion of six-years of negotiations toward a comprehensive trade deal and the elevation of the bilateral relation to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Ahead of that meeting he told reporters he saw it as “incredibly important I should be here in my first week as prime minister, and shows the continuity between the work done by my predecessors”.

“There was a very special bond between President Widodo and Prime Minister Turnbull and I know that has provided the entree for me to now continue that relationship and I’m looking forward to our formal discussions later today but also the opportunity to spend a bit of time together,” he said.

Mr Morrison said he was disappointed Mr Turnbull wasn’t sticking around until the next election, but said he was happy that the former prime minister was walking away from the madness of politics and all of the “nonsense” that has occurred.

“...right now I just want to send to my friend Malcolm, and to Lucy, and to their entire family all my best wishes and all my love.” Mr Morrison well remembers how much his predecessor liked to talk about love. “Well, mate, love’s coming right back at you Malcolm, and I want to wish all the best to you and the time that you’re going to have with your family now,” he said.

“And to be able to get out of the madness of politics and all that sort of nonsense that occurred, and to be able to refresh and reset. “You deserve that mate, you absolutely deserve that. You’ve served our country well, and on behalf of our country as prime minister, I just want to say thanks.”

Earlier in the day Mr Morrison visited an Australian-funded junior high school where he spoke of the importance of education and told students that Australia was a good friend to Indonesia and “more importantly, we are good mates”.

Education is to be one of the cornerstones of the Indonesia Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA_CEPA), with Australian higher educational institutions expected to be granted a 67 per cent controlling stake in Indonesia-based campuses and curricular autonomy.

In return they will provide more vocational courses for Indonesian students that could eventually allow Indonesian graduates to seek work in Australia.

Mr Morrison described the agreement on education as a “massive win-win”.

“It’s much more than a trade deal we are talking about today, it’s not a transaction, this is a partnership and this is something that has been in the making for a while.”

“What we’ve seen in our relationship with Indonesia over many, many years is it has just continued to build and it’s my absolute intention and priority to keep that momentum going and to take it to a new level. I’m very happy to pick up where the Prime Minister previously left us and to take it forward for both countries.”

The visit was to have been a triumph for Malcolm Turnbull who inherited a tempestuous relationship, buffeted by disputes over live cattle exports, spying revelations and the 2015 executions of Australians Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, and left it at an historic high.

Instead, after a fortnight of internal Liberal Party bloodletting which led to Mr Turnbull standing down as Prime Minister last week, it is his successor Mr Morrison who will announce an elevation of the relationship that reflects a not only the significant diplomatic gains made in recent years but the recognition by both nations of the changing dynamics in a region which China now seeks to dominate.

Asked whether Australia was looking for more solid backing from Indonesia in facing up to Beijing expansionism on issues like the South China Sea, Mr Morrison insisted Australia’s regional relationships were not a “zero sum game”.

“We all live in this part of the world together which means we have to work towards having the best possible relationships we can at the highest level we can. For one relationship to be stronger, another relationship doesn’t have to be weaker,” he said.

“But the area where we are going to do more heavy lifting, which the president and I are looking forward to speaking about today in person, is on our economic relationship. So much more can be achieved, and when that is achieved we will see a prosperity here and in our own country that will benefit future generations.”

Mr Turnbull’s scheduled trip was to have also included visits to Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and Nairu for the Pacific islands Forum.

Mr Morrison chose to honour only the Indonesia leg, and will send new foreign minister Marise Payne to Nairu in his stead.

But he moved to reassure the leaders of all 16 participating nations that he saw Australia’s relationship with the Pacific as one of “family”, adding “you can count on me to have a close and friendly relationship”.

Additional reporting: AAP