Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia and Australia on Tuesday agreed to strengthen cooperation on law and immigration during a bilateral meeting in Jakarta, officials said.
Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra said ties between the two neighbours have been built over decades and must be reinforced through concrete and sustainable cooperation.
“This visit is not merely routine diplomacy, but reflects the seriousness of Indonesia and Australia in safeguarding and strengthening a long-standing relationship, particularly in law, immigration and the handling of increasingly complex cross-border issues,” Yusril said in Jakarta on Wednesday.
He noted that cooperation between countries often faces challenges arising from differences in regulations, legal norms and administrative procedures.
Even so, he said open communication and strong relations between leaders and institutions were crucial to bridging such gaps.
“Experience shows that goodwill and close communication are often the key to aligning various normative constraints,” he added.
Yusril also conveyed President Prabowo Subianto’s attention to issues of abolition, amnesty, clemency and rehabilitation, including the possibility of cooperation on repatriating Indonesian prisoners overseas through bilateral agreements.
Indonesia has begun preliminary discussions with several countries on the matter, including the Philippines, he said.
Australian Minister for Home Affairs, Immigration, Citizenship, Cybersecurity and the Arts Tony Burke welcomed the strengthening of bilateral cooperation and reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to close engagement with Indonesia.
“Australia views Indonesia as a key partner in the region. Cooperation in immigration, law enforcement and people mobility is important for both countries, and we want to ensure this collaboration continues to grow,” Burke said.
The meeting reaffirmed a shared commitment to addressing cross-border challenges in law, human rights, immigration and corrections.
Discussions covered strategic issues including the success of Indonesia-Australia immigration cooperation to date, opportunities to deepen collaboration, and joint efforts to combat human smuggling through approaches balancing security and humanitarian considerations.
The meeting also highlighted the strategic value of the Working Holiday Visa programme for young people in both countries, with expectations that it would continue to run effectively.
A representative from Indonesia’s Directorate General of Immigration said the programme has received strong public interest in Indonesia.
Officials also evaluated technical constraints during previous intakes, largely caused by heavy online traffic from high application volumes.
Going forward, immigration authorities aim to better anticipate such challenges and explore options to increase application quotas for Indonesians.
Indonesia reaffirmed its commitment to closer synergy with Australia in building legal and immigration governance that is adaptive, humane and responsive to global challenges, the ministry said.
