'People smuggling is a crime in Indonesia, and I do think that Indonesia should resume co-operation with us,' says PM

This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old

The prime minister wants Indonesia to move on from the spying row, and quickly – using interviews marking his first 100 days in office to urge Jakarta to forgive and forget, and get on with the business of disrupting asylum boats bound for Australia.

Tony Abbott told the ABC on Monday morning the suspension of co-operation over people smuggling and border protection in place since the surveillance row had prompted an “uptick in recent weeks” of asylum boats reaching Christmas Island.

“I think one of the reasons why there has been an uptick in boats over the last couple of weeks has been because of this suspension,” Abbott said.

“People smuggling is a crime in Indonesia, and I do think that Indonesia should resume co-operation with us. We are certainly being as good a friend as we humanly can to Indonesia, and I think that it would be the act of a good friend to swiftly resume anti-people smuggling co-operation.

“If we can ensure boats don’t leave Australia for West Papua to embarrass the Indonesians, well, similarly, there’s more that Indonesia can do to help us here.”

On Sunday Abbott was similarly blunt. ''There's no doubt that the suspension of co-operation by the Indonesian authorities has been unhelpful,” he said at a news conference in Sydney. “And given that people smuggling is a crime in Indonesia, just as it's a crime in Australia, I think it's high time that that co-operation was resumed.”

Labor has accused the prime minister of pursuing megaphone diplomacy in relation to Indonesia.

Relations between Jakarta and Canberra soured after Guardian Australia published revelations that Australia attempted in 2009 to listen in on the mobile telephone conversations of the Indonesian president, his wife and their inner circle.

Abbott’s refusal to apologise prompted Indonesia to suspend co-operation on people smuggling, defence and other issues.

The suspension of co-operation on border protection is particularly damaging for the Coalition. The Coalition promised before the September election to stop irregular maritime arrivals. Its interception and disruption policies rely on a high degree of co-operation with Indonesia.

The foreign affairs minister, Julie Bishop, has been deployed by Abbott to reach a new co-operative agreement with her Indonesian counterpart, Marty Natalegawa, on intelligence issues. Natalegawa has made it plain the new code of conduct will be worked through on Indonesia’s terms as set out by president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

The two met recently. It is unclear how long it will take to move past the diplomatic furore. Abbott’s comments appear to reflect a certain amount of impatience at current progress.