AUSTRALIA has always spied on Indonesia, and vice versa, says Deakin academic Damien KingSbury.
The only startling thing is that anyone would bother to feign surprise, says Professor Kingsbury, who holds a personal chair in the School of International and Political Studies.
Australia’s relationship with its northern neighbour has gone from bad worse in recent weeks, the latest episode seeing the recall by Jakarta of its ambassador to Australia amid reports 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 wrote on the Deakin Speaking website.
“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 at “one of its historic low points” and “entirely a consequence of Australian policy”.
“Australia’s alleged spying on Indonesia is both bipartisan and largely necessary,” he said.
“But Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has not yet moved to allay concerns in Jakarta by saying Australia’s intelligence program will be reviewed and offensive activity ceased (even if it will not).”
