Via the Australian
Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa says Jakarta has already ''adjusted'' cooperation with Canberra, and the level of the downgrade in relations will depend on Australia's stance over revelations of spying on Indonesia.
..."Downgrading the level of the relationship between Indonesia and Australia has been done,'' Dr Natalegawa said.
''We have already adjusted various forms of cooperation.
''We are turning off the tap by degrees. '
'It is being measured according to (Australia's) response and stance.''
Righto, Marty…then I say Australia should turn off your $541 million foreign aid tap, advise all of our citizens not to holiday in that drug infested dump called Bali and cancel your (Indonesia’s) purchase of a million hectares of Australian grazing land.
Hey Marty, if your country wasn’t a hot bed for major terrorist incidents & known terror groups we wouldn’t have to spy on you.
Past and present Prime Minister’s are responsible for the safety of Australians and not the hurt feelings of Indonesian apparatchiks.
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Why are we bowing down to these untrustworthy fools? We have been doing this for far too long. Tell Indonesia to pull their heads in.
http://www.3aw.com.au/blogs/neil-mitchell-blog/i-wont-be-allowed-in-indonesia-for-this/20131120-2xu93.html
Posted by: Allan | November 20, 2013 at 05:44 PM
I wonder - is there no end to the damage the previous Rudd/Gillard/Rudd governments have done to Australia?
I wonder - is there no damage to Australia and our national interest the ABC, the opposition and other lefties are not prepared to inflict?
Like Alexander Downer, I find it "passing strange" that the Guardian and ABC sat on this story since May - for what reason? Maybe to try and damage the new government at a time they considered the government to be showing competence well beyond the mob the electorate kicked out.
The mob in Australia seemingly wishing for Indonesia to harm us are beneath contempt as is the bullying tactics of Indonesia.
We should retaliate by withdrawing our aid from Indonesia, we should cancel the sale of land and block any other ideas Indonesia has about what it will and won't do in Australia.
One thing is for sure,in this mess Tony Abbott who is responsible for none of it stands head and shoulders above his Indonesian counterpart and the opposition leader.
Posted by: ibbit | November 20, 2013 at 06:22 PM
Why is that this issue stirs such passions amongst the worst and rudest of renecks on this site
Abbott could do as Obama did when he apologised to Abgela Merkal for such spying,,,but no.. that not one so now he has a major crisis...so just watch the boats come in a small armada... then what???
He is on a no win bet...what an ineot PM he is showing himself to be.... rather amazing really ...I did think he would do better this this debacle
Where are you Malcolm Turnbull when we need you ??
Posted by: Ted Kennett | November 20, 2013 at 08:44 PM
Yes, Barry apologized to Merkal - do you think that relations between the two will ever be as they were before? That little bastard Snowdon is a traitorous dog. He, along with Assange have done more to damage the West than any enemy could have dreamed of. Indeed, go ahead, lets destroy the West and weaken her to the point of no return - just be prepared for what takes it's place!!
Posted by: bluebell | November 20, 2013 at 09:10 PM
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/policy/stay-calm-relations-take-a-hit-but-everyone-listens-to-everyone/story-fn59nm2j-1226763860414
Posted by: Michael Smyth | November 20, 2013 at 09:39 PM
I will point out that Indonesia did not apologise, and in fact made light of the 2004 revelations.
Posted by: Michael Smyth | November 20, 2013 at 09:40 PM
I believe the ABC and Fairfax should be charged with treason.
Posted by: Deejay | November 21, 2013 at 08:01 AM
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/malevolent-shysters-are-damaging-australia/story-fnj45fva-1226764657800
Posted by: Allan | November 21, 2013 at 09:13 AM
Mark Scott should be shot for treason. We can't get the the bastards that stole the secrets, but we can get to the bastards that publicize it, so we should go get them. I have been advocating turning off the tap to the Indons. for ages now, us fools are financing our own defeat if this keeps up.
Posted by: Jim Witt | November 21, 2013 at 10:39 AM
Well spoken Ibbit. You are absolutely correct in what you say.
Labor was fully aware of what was going on and now they are happy for the Liberals to be burdened withy the consequences.
But what is the Main Agenda her and Who is behind it all.
Posted by: Owen Carlton | November 21, 2013 at 10:51 AM
FYI
What PM Abbott should say in his letter of ‘apology’ to Indonesia's SBY
http://www.andysrant.com/2013/11/what-pm-abbott-should-say-in-his-letter-of-apology-to-indonesias-sby.html
Posted by: Account Deleted | November 21, 2013 at 11:00 AM
It's the standard play straight out of the "progressive" (AKA Marxist) Playbook. Do what ever you can to destabilise the main stream political process.
Indonesia runs counter to just about every single progressive left ideology angle, but because the right doesn’t take any shit from Indonesia, progressives continue to make excuses for them, like denounce PM Abbott and demand he "apologise". Just look at our own "ABC"
Posted by: Account Deleted | November 21, 2013 at 11:04 AM
I don't have to think hard what your real name is Abdulla but here is a hot hint for you.
Shut up and stay out of this.
In case you didn't know this..
Indonesia has spied on us as well and not a word was said. Abbott does just the thing he should do. EVERY COUNTRY SPIES ON OTHER COUNTRIES. If this was not the case we would have probably had another world war on our hands long time ago.
Calling on Turnbull to step in is just what you guys want as he is just another left wing Labor man in the wrong party. Why do you think they call him Turncoat. I have had a gut full
of people like you.
Back to school and learn English by the way. But no school in the world can teach common sense. It has got to be in your DNA.
Posted by: Ingrid | November 21, 2013 at 12:40 PM
Bolt's expose' puts it in terms that can easily be understood by the perpetrators of this treasonous betrayal of our country but, I bet you don't hear an apology from Mark Scott, Richard Ackland, Fairfax Media or those Labor/Green socialist traitors.
Mark Scott and that other leftist trouble making bastard from Fairfax Media, Richard Ackland, should be shown to the public of Australia for what they are - traitors.
It is amazing to see those Labor morons tripping all over each other to back Abbott. They are now in a state of terrified panic because they realise it is their fault. It is too late, the buck is going to stop with them and they deserve by the buckets full.
Owen Carlton is correct to say: "But what is the Main Agenda her and Who is behind it all." At this point my money would be on the comment by ibbit:
"Maybe to try and damage the new government at a time they considered the government to be showing competence well beyond the mob the electorate kicked out."
Posted by: Allan | November 21, 2013 at 12:51 PM
You haven't committed yourself to much background reading on this have you...
Posted by: Jonathan | November 21, 2013 at 02:12 PM
Jonathan, over the past few weeks we have had an influx of trolling on MH. I would hazard a guess that all of the following names are the same person;
Tom Ainsworth, Ted Hainsworth, Tom Acton, Tom Duncan, Tom Skene, Ted Bell and Ted Kennet.
Posted by: Allan | November 21, 2013 at 02:24 PM
.... the permanent-public-service's Labor/Greenz-activist-directed feral gummint should turn off its Hundreds of Billions of annual Dollars of "foreign aid," tax the Heck out of Bali airline tickets and put on hold (until its "government" gets a hold of itself!) any Indonesia ownership of Australian grazing land ....
And then get ready for the reaction from Singapore's petty dictators. Given the impact on its GDP every tsunami, typhoon and/or increase and/or decrease of regional "aid" has on that gang's stock market and banking and hi-rise apartment-building industries.
Brian Richard Allen
Posted by: Brian_R_Allen | November 21, 2013 at 03:36 PM
I worked for many years in a senior position for a relatively honest multinational company (yes they do exist) which did business all over the world and I believe, after doing a lot of business in Indonesia, people do not come much more dishonest and corrupt than Indonesians. We should not be dictated to by these people who deny human rights, especially to those innocents wanting out such as in western Papua, and should cut off our taxpayers' aid to them.
Posted by: Ian | November 21, 2013 at 06:17 PM
Why should Abbott apologise eh?? It was in Rudd's term of office that this occurred and why was it all kept under wraps until after the election. Fishy to say the least.
Posted by: Georgina | November 21, 2013 at 07:57 PM
Ibbit - an excellent comment. Sums up the situation entirely. And don't forget SBY told Howard he would NEVER FORGET the consideration of Australia in sending billions to Indo after the country's huge Earthquake and Tsusami. Stop aid to Indo certainly, they don't deserve it and if they withdraw the Ambassador and close our embassy, then theirs is closed. The Indo Foreign Minister has tried his hardest to put Australia down and cause trouble before. He is hopeful of a rise!!!Pitting himself against SBY
Posted by: Georgina | November 21, 2013 at 08:09 PM
This certainly in a treacherous display by the ABC/Lab/Greens to "get Tony" and stifle his policies. This spying was done in Rudd's time and Rudd even remarked on "conflict" so why try to pillory Tony Abbott - because he is strong and determined and has Australia at heart. If Labor, the Greens, the ABC had any thought of Australia and Australians they would not be going around being as vindictive and nasty as they can, seeking to down Tony as they have done for the past six years. Shows just what they are? It is treason against this country on their part and the verdict should be jail and as far as the ABC is concerned, demolished for its treachery.
Posted by: Georgina | November 21, 2013 at 08:18 PM
Must say to Ibbit. You are so right when you speak about the damage the ALP has done to Australia. Howard government passed on a very nice sum only to be squandered by Rudd/Gillard/Rudd, and six years of infighting and blaming anyone but itself. All Labor talks about is the GFC. Billions were wasted on that with pink batts, school halls and sending cheques to dead dogs. Then it wasted billions so that the government has had to try and claw back billions of that waste. Rudd/Gillard/Rudd was the worst government in Australia's history and now it is trying all manner of tricks to try to stop the government (Abbott's government - not theirs thank goodness) carrying out their policies. Jealousy and hatred abound. It is not thinking of Australia/Australians but of themselves losing the election and will stop at anything to try to pull an intelligent, loyal PM down. Hang your heads in shame.
Posted by: Georgina | November 21, 2013 at 08:32 PM
Good to see Abbott has the sense to keep Julie Bishop out of the loop. How big a grub is Mark Textor?
Posted by: dB | November 21, 2013 at 08:57 PM
You could be right on this Alan, they all have the same manner of spin to their socialist rant that is devoid of facts and logic combined with similar grammar errors and spelling errors. Just some sick sorry, and pissed off socialist wanker who is dumb as a box of rocks. Hmmm wonder if it is Julia Gillard, after all she always wanted to be a man, LOL.
Posted by: Jim Witt | November 22, 2013 at 09:34 AM
Allan at 14: re your comment about Labor tripping over each other, seemingly, to back Abbott.
In today's Australian an article talks about senior Labor figures wanting to find constructive ways to seriously (not pretending like the opposition leader and his smelly deputy) back or help Abbott in this mess. And why? For the national Interest you might think? - but no, because they fear this sorry episode will blow back on them big time because they know only too well it is of their doing.
What a scurrilous, morally defective mob labor are.
Posted by: ibbit | November 22, 2013 at 10:44 AM
Here's my deal:
We apologize for our phone tapping in exchange for a full apology from Indonesia for the slaughter of our ABC journalists, and to fully repatriate their bodies to Australia for decent burial. Sounds like a fair exchange to me. Two can play at this bloody game, and the Indonesians should be put on notice we are not putting up with their crap anymore....including their deliberate flooding of this country of boat people by their people smuggling networks - whom I might add get a LOT of help from their corrupt police and army operatives.
Posted by: bluebell | November 22, 2013 at 10:45 AM
ibbit, a bit of further reading this morning reveals that Abbott actually knows who signed the order to spy on SYB and his wife. Full marks to Abbott for not tipping the bucket on Labor. It must arouse an awfully big temptation.
Far from the stupidity of Shorten and Plibersek, the self-serving duplicity of senior Labor rabble and the treachery of their mouthpieces Fairfax and ABC, Abbott and the Coalition are shown to be the only adults in the game.
Posted by: Allan | November 22, 2013 at 11:09 AM
Unfortunately bluebell that ain't ever going to happen. If those grubby corrupt and two-faced Indonesians, of whom the odious loud-mouthed sabre rattler Natalegawa is a prime example, had to apologise for all the wrongs they have done Australia then they would be blabbering for a week solid.
Posted by: Allan | November 22, 2013 at 11:16 AM
Andy said :
I say Australia should turn off your $541 million foreign aid tap
My understanding is that this aid is aimed at improving the public education system in Indonesia, to provide an alternative to the Madrassa schools which teach a radical Islamic view.
Even Sydney radio 2GB shock-jock Ray Hadley, in his Daily Telegraph contribution last Friday alluded :
"We are set to give them $646 million in aid and we've promised to deliver hundreds of thousands of new high school places ..."
Cutting out our aid to Indonesia could end up as assisting fundamentalist Islam ...
More going on here than meets the eye.
Posted by: AlterEgo | November 23, 2013 at 01:58 PM
We shouldn't be giving Indonesia any dough...http://www.andysrant.com/2012/01/what-are-we-still-giving-remarkable-indonesia-a-billion-dollars-in-aid.html
Posted by: Andy's Rant! | November 24, 2013 at 12:23 AM
Thanks Andy for the link which contained a link back to "The Australian" article.
This confirmed what I said above about Indonesia's education program.
As the old saying goes "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions".
A further point about the leaked documents.
After 9/11, one of the major criticisms of America's security was that the various security agencies did not have efficient systems to exchange information.
Attempts to fix this have had the unfortunate result that Edward Snowden, a low level contractor, was able to leak this sensitive information concerning our Spooks spying on Indonesia.
No need to go into who the ultimate winner in all this is!
Suffice to say that Islamic fundamentalists in Indonesia must be laughing all the way to their bomb factories (if they laugh at all, that is).
Posted by: AlterEgo | November 24, 2013 at 11:46 AM
Criticisms of the American security system and supposed internal shortcomings may or may not have been valid, depending on where that criticism originated. If it originated with the press then it is not worth considering.
Regardless, I fail to see how you can link any restructuring of the ability to transfer information from one agency to another with Snowden and his ability to be able to leak information.
Snowden is an experienced hacker whose premeditated intentions were made easier because he was employed within the system where he handled such information as part of his daily employment. Just like that other objectionable grub Assange, Snowden could have achieved similar results from outside the system, but why pick the lock when the door is open.
If there is any failures it would seem to be a failure to effectively detect and screen out traitors before they are admitted into the fold.
Posted by: Allan | November 24, 2013 at 12:53 PM
We should never resume military exercises with Indonesia. We have already passed on too much hard won information and training. Their murderous Kopassus are not a good outcome.
Why are we giving them perfectly good Hercules that can be used for Australian disaster relief?
Indonesians killed 500,000 of their own people because they suspected them of being communist and have conducted genocidal policies in West Papua starting with the takeover sanctioned by Australia under US instructions. "Merdeka! Merdeka!" - Yes, for everyone except the West Papuans!
They must not be allowed to own Australian farm land.
Australian aid to Indonesia must stop immediately and be diverted to our own causes. They are totally ungracious for the $billions we have given.
There is an underlying resentment of Australia and Australians that becomes inordinately strident at the slightest pretext.
If you had neighbours like these you wouldn't continue to cultivate them, so why do we persist?
Posted by: Jack | November 26, 2013 at 11:47 PM
Tonights news summary:
Lord Downer used our spies for a bit of espionage against East Timor. Julie Bishop has pissed off China, and Andrew Robb has stopped taking his pills.
Posted by: dB | November 27, 2013 at 10:42 PM