Alannah Mactiernan (Perth, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

It is with great sadness I rise to endorse the motion that has been moved by the foreign minister and seconded by the shadow foreign minister. I want to start by saying that I have the most profound respect for Indonesia. I certainly do not think that we want to see this debate as one where Australia is preaching to Indonesia. This is a country that Australia has been critically involved in since its very inception. Australia has a long history of supporting the Indonesians, firstly, in their quest for freedom in the postcolonial period. It is a nation of over 250 million people, and it has achieved a very stable democracy in some very challenging circumstances. It is truly amazing what has been achieved in Indonesia since it gained independence in the postwar period. So I think we all want to stress that we admire Indonesia and the steps that it has taken to raise its community, many of whom were in poverty, and to provide opportunities for its community. We understand the need for very tough laws on drugs as Indonesia seeks to create a stable environment for the community into the 21st century.

We want to have an even stronger relationship with Indonesia. I personally am very much committed to increasing the teaching of the Indonesian language in our primary and secondary schools and universities. I want those bonds to be stronger. We are urging President Joko Widodo to really take the importance of this relationship into central focus when making a final decision on the fate of the two young Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.

In my constituency, across Western Australia and, indeed, across Australia, people are really deeply concerned about the fate of these young men. They have seen in great detail their transformation in the prison in Bali. They see that these are young people who—through, one might argue, the enlightenment of the Indonesian prison system—have been enabled to grow beyond the state they were in when they were apprehended for their crimes in association with drug smuggling. These are young men who have been able to go through a period of considerable rehabilitation and moral restoration during their time within that prison. We want to acknowledge that has happened.

We want the Indonesian government to show the compassion and enlightenment that we know that they are capable of and to free these young Australians. In that, they can not only spare these men and their families great grief and trauma but also really do something very positive to cement the bonds of friendship between Australia and Indonesia. Regardless of what happens, we are going to be close neighbours. But I and many Australians want that relationship to be an even more profoundly connected relationship where we bring our cultures together. If the Indonesian government and President Widodo were able to see their way clear to this act of mercy—this act of clemency—it would be greatly appreciated by the Australian community and, I believe, would go a long way to taking our connection and our intercommunity relations with Indonesia to a higher plane. I believe that can only be to our mutual benefit. I want to acknowledge the good work that has been done by so many people pressing the case for Andrew and Myuran. I want to add my voice to that. This is not hectoring, or a criticism of Indonesia; it is a plea to a magnificent and successful country to take this additional step to ensure that relations between our communities remain strong.

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