By NOEL MURPHY
AUSTRALIA has always spied on Indonesia – and vice versa, says a Geelong academic.
The only startling aspect was that anyone would bother feigning surprise, said Professor Damien Kingsbury, who holds a personal chair in Deakin University’s School of International and Political Studies.
Australia’s relationship with Indonesia was under strain this week amid accusations Australia tried to tap the phones of Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
“Australia’s spying on Indonesia began in the 1950s as Australia and Indonesia increasingly found themselves in competing Cold War camps,” Prof Kingsbury said.
“Similarly, Indonesia has long spied on Australia, although its intelligence service’s primary function, like its military, has always been focused internally.
“Indonesian spying on Australia was very active during the Suharto era, targeting Indonesia-focused Australian activists.”
Prof Kingsbury said Australia’s relationship with Indonesia was “entirely a consequence of Australian policy”.
“Australia’s alleged spying on Indonesia is both bipartisan and largely necessary,” he said.
