Honoured to speak at the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (Hanoi, 23/4).

I underlined:
1️⃣ ASEAN should continue asserting its leadership in shaping Indo-Pacific architecture & cooperation.

We need a strong & united ASEAN to ensure ASEAN remains matter & can play its centrality.

Rahajeng Nyepi to all those marking this significant day in Bali on 11 March 2024. On this day of silence, all activity on the island will cease for 24 hours of reflection and meditation.

Wishing all in Bali a peaceful Nyepi Day 🙏

The World's biggest election day is over. Organised, peaceful, fair. So proud of the country that stole my heart in 1973. :)
7NEWS Perth ABC News 𝙿𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚑 𝚃𝚘𝚍𝚊𝚢 SBS News Anthony Albanese Roger Cook AIBC National Menteri Luar Negeri Republik Indonesia Joko Widodo ABC News

In Foreign Affairs, I assess what a Prabowo Subianto presidency might mean for Indonesia, ahead of tomorrow's elections. Prabowo is the overwhelming frontrunner, backed by unofficial alliance with Jokowi, re-igniting concerns about the future of democracy foreignaffairs.com/indonesia/indo…

Prabowo Subianto is closing in on that magical number of 50% to get the Indonesian presidency on Wednesday. 205 mil voters & 7 million officials at 809,000 polling stations. Amazing. 2GB Sydney ABC Radio Perth ABC News PR 𝙿𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚑 𝚃𝚘𝚍𝚊𝚢 The West Australian 7NEWS Perth Basil Zempilas Daily Mail Online

Pleased to announce that Murdoch University is offering a PhD scholarship open to Indonesian nationals hosted by our new Indo-Pacific Research Centre. Its an exciting opportunity to come and work and research with us. Applications close July 2024. 1/2
murdoch.edu.au/study/scholars…

BALI RECORD?
The @indoinstitute estimates that in 2023 over 1.3 million Aussies visited Bali- an all time record. Bali is as popular as ever.
7NEWS Perth 9News Perth 6PR Perth ABC News PerthNow 𝙿𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚑 𝚃𝚘𝚍𝚊𝚢 The West Australian amanda hodge Emma Connors 2GB Sydney Menteri Luar Negeri Republik Indonesia Jenna Clarke

Great to see this important article on Indonesia's approaching election out so soon - & open access! But so sad to witness Indonesia's democracy in slow-motion trainwreck, with a Soeharto-era human rights abuser rebirthed into a presidential candidate. (Melawan lupa!)

Indonesian authorities preparing to scrap Visa-on-Arrival fees to joost & secure tourism to Bali. Meanwhile Australia INCREASES inbound visa fees by 35% providing a huge disincentive for tourists NOT to holiday in Oz. 6PR Perth 7NEWS Perth 9News Perth ABC News PerthNow 𝙿𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚑 𝚃𝚘𝚍𝚊𝚢

So apparently the fabulous Indonesian series #CigaretteGirl is racing up the Netflix charts in Latin America and Romania. Why? Hint: strong women, duplicitous men, passion denied, all wrapped up in elliptical storytelling. Adina Nistor #GadisKretek

Bali, along with large parts of Java, is now experiencing drought conditions. Authorities in Bali have declared a 'drought emergency' for the next 14 days. ABC News Radio 6PR 882 AM 𝙿𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚑 𝚃𝚘𝚍𝚊𝚢 The West Australian PerthNow Mail+

The new Rp150,000 ($15.00) per person provincial government tax will apply to all Aussies arriving into Bali as from February 2024. This will be in addition to the current Rp500,000 ($50.00) Visa tax. ABC News 7NEWS Perth 𝙿𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚑 𝚃𝚘𝚍𝚊𝚢 2GB Sydney PerthNow The West Australian Basil Zempilas

Refusing to allow the father of one-punch victim, Danny Hodgson, to stay in Perth to support his severely impaired son, is a disgrace. Just another terrible example of our broken immigration visa system. Basil Zempilas Robbie Gaspar Radio 6PR 882 AM ABC News 2GB Sydney 𝙿𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚑 𝚃𝚘𝚍𝚊𝚢

204 million Indonesians are now registered to vote in next year's Presidential election. Just amazing to see a rigorous democracy in place. Makes Austrlia look pretty small. 7NEWS Perth ABC News 6PR Perth 𝙿𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚑 𝚃𝚘𝚍𝚊𝚢 SBS News Basil Zempilas Robbie Gaspar

Bali's roads are full of traffic now but back in the throes of the pandemic in early September 2021, it was a different story. People were selling all manner of things from their cars and bikes on the side of the roads - sugar, eggs, cooking oil, masks, tissues, live chickens...

Joko Widodo visited Africa for the first time as president last month, visiting Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and South Africa. But what motivated the trip? And why now? Jemma Purdey explores these questions with Christophe Dorigné-Thomson for Talking Indonesia
buff.ly/3Z4uLXN

The one item that perhaps best represents WA’s trading relationship with Indonesia – and the future opportunities on offer – might surprise you.

thewest.com.au/news/wa/millio…

Indonesia is battling wildfires and haze as the dry season, which is expected to peak this month, intensifies across the country. The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency mentioned the El Niño climactic phenomenon with hotter and drier weather thejakartapost.com/paper/2023/09/…

As Oz authorities scramble to sort out the ban on cattle imports to Indonesia, due to LS Disease, we overlook more subtle yet important issues that WA has lost sight of. Imports of beef remains critical to the Indo food supply, so will remain complex. ABC News JenneBrammer TheWest 6PR Perth