The populous Indonesian archipelago is one of our nearest northern neighbours. This predominantly Muslim nation is a significant trading partner which purchased $7.03 billion worth of goods and services from Australian business/industry in 2017.
On 24 August
2018 when Scott John Morrison walked
over the political corpse of Malcolm
Bligh Turnbull to become Australia’s 30th prime minister the Indonesia-Australia
Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement was well on its way to
being signed by both governments.
Australia and
Indonesia announced the
substantive conclusion of negotiations on the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive
Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA) on 31 August 2018. This agreement will
launch a new chapter in economic relations between Australia and Indonesia…..
Indonesia is a growing
market for Australian goods and services exporters. In 2017, total two-way
trade in goods and services with Indonesia was worth $16.4 billion, making
Indonesia our 13th largest trading partner. IA-CEPA will provide Australian and
Indonesian businesses an opportunity to expand and diversify this economic
partnership.
IA-CEPA builds on
commitments under our existing free trade agreement, the ASEAN-Australia-New
Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) across goods, services and investment.
In addition to reducing
non-tariff barriers to trade and simplifying paperwork, IA-CEPA will allow 99%
of Australia's goods exports to enter Indonesia duty free or with significantly
improved preferential arrangements. All Indonesia's goods exports will enter
Australia duty free.
IA-CEPA will improve
conditions for services suppliers and the climate for two-way investment.
Australian services suppliers and investors will have greater certainty for
entry and operation in the Indonesian market, helping to facilitate more
Australian investment in Indonesia. This will create more opportunities for
Australians to help meet Indonesia's growing needs for investment and for the
supply of world class services in its market.
Both sides will 'scrub'
the full text of the agreement, to verify its accuracy and internal legal
consistency. The agreement will be translated into Indonesian with the
Indonesian and English versions being equally authentic. Once translated,
the agreement will be ready for formal signature. The full text of the
agreement will be released publicly once it has been signed.
After signature,
Australia and Indonesia will then follow their domestic treaty making processes
to bring IA-CEPA into force. For Australia, this will include tabling the text
of the agreement in Parliament and an inquiry by the Joint Standing Committee on
Treaties (JSCOT). [my yellow highlighting]
By Day 81 of his time as prime minister Morrison had managed to publicly offend moderate Muslims here and around the world not once but twice and, the Agreement which was to be signed before the end of the week has now been delayed indefinitely by Indonesia.
Scott Morrison captain's call over the status of Jerusalem in particular was a grave error -based as it was on Pentacoastal teachings and not existing Australia Government policy.
He needs to think before he opens his mouth in future.
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