Gary Humphries (ACT, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Evans. I refer to the recent cancellation of President Yudhoyono’s state visit to Australia. Can the minister confirm that the President’s program included an official welcome, a special cabinet meeting, an official lunch and an address to this parliament? Will the minister please table a copy of the program prepared by the Prime Minister’s department for the state visit?

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I assume this means that the senator is concerned that he might miss out on his lunch! I cannot confirm the particular arrangements you have asked about, Senator, but I would take the view that normally, when a visiting head of state comes to Australia, such arrangements are put in place. I gather that the opposition spokesperson, Ms Julie Bishop, had been briefed and then was out there talking about those arrangements. I am not sure whether she was briefed confidentially or not, but anyway that is for her.

I make clear that both the Australian and the Indonesian governments have indicated that the President’s visit to Australia has been accepted but that due to domestic matters and scheduling matters the President will probably take up that invitation next year. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the President’s spokesman, Dino Patti Djalal, ‘said suggestions the timing of the visit related to the stand-off involving the Sri Lankans were rubbish’. The spokesman also said:

The President has a lot on the domestic agenda. He’s just spent six days in Malaysia and at APEC. He wants to go to Australia when it can be a fully-focused visit.

So my understanding is that the President will visit in the new year. Those arrangements will obviously be finalised and the details announced in due course. I am sure that at that time those sorts of official engagements will occur.

Gary Humphries (ACT, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, on a point of order: my question was about the details of this proposed state visit, not about the next state visit that the President is going to make. Could I please have the details that were arranged for this state visit by President Yudhoyono?

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is the first thing I said, Senator, in response to your question. I am not aware of those details, but I assume that, under normal practice, that sort of thing would occur.

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Will you take it on notice then?

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, I will not. I will see what information is available, Senator, but I was quite upfront with you—those are the sorts of arrangements that are normally made.

Gary Humphries (ACT, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Can the minister then confirm that several ministers in this government were contacted by the Ceremonial and Hospitality Branch of PM&C to attend functions arranged for President Yudhoyono on this visit? Indeed, was the minister himself or his office contacted with regard to any functions, including the special cabinet meeting that is reported as having been planned and the address to parliament?

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I indicated, I am sure that the normal arrangements were being put in place for any planned visit. As I say, those are just normal processes, but it has been made clear that that visit has been delayed. I am not aware of approaches to my office regarding the timing of the visit, but they may well have occurred. I was not aware of any particular invitations. It may be that I was not invited, and that is not uncommon—I tend not to be on the top of the A-list for these social events. If the invitations were made to my office, we would have scheduled those things in, but the key answer is that I am sure normal arrangements were being put in place. The visit has been delayed at the request of the Indonesian President, and I am sure that new arrangements will be put in place when he visits.

Gary Humphries (ACT, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The President’s visit made a big impression on you, Minister! Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Does the cancellation of this state visit demonstrate the damage to our diplomatic relations with Indonesia caused by the Rudd government’s weakness and incompetent handling of the Oceanic Viking issue?

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Once again: a one-word answer.

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Abetz keeps asking me to give a one-word answer, so the answer is no. I generally try to be more helpful than that to senators. Clearly the relationship between Australia and Indonesia remains very strong. There is constant contact between the President, SBY, and the Prime Minister. I was speaking to Mr Smith this morning, who has again had contact with his Indonesian counterpart. He speaks to him frequently. He met him recently, I think, at the APEC meeting. There are very strong relations. I have not yet had the chance to meet the new immigration minister in Indonesia but I hope to do so soon. He is a new minister. There are very strong government-to-government relations. They have not been damaged by this event, and I am sure we will continue to enjoy very positive and strong relations with this very important neighbour.