Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Parliamentary motions—and the chamber is familiar with the government's view on this—are not the best mechanisms to deal with complex foreign policy matters. Australia regularly engages with Indonesia about developments in the Papuan provinces. The Indonesian government has expressed its concern over developments in Jayapura and has restated its commitment to strengthen implementation of special autonomy in the Papuan provinces. Australia welcomes President Yudhoyono's statement that any abuses by security forces are to be investigated and punished. The government follows closely developments in Papua. Australian officials regularly visit the provinces to better understand the situation there. Under the Lombok treaty, Australia is committed to respecting Indonesian sovereignty and territorial integrity.