DEFENCE Minister Kevin Andrews has delivered a furious attack on ­Indonesia, claiming it intentionally baited Australia with its brutal handling of the Bali Nine executions as relations between the two countries plunged to their lowest point in ­recent history.

While Australia yesterday took the unprecedented step of withdrawing its ambassador and continuing a ban on ministerial meetings between the two countries amid mounting international outrage at the executions, Mr Andrews was unambiguous in his feelings.

“We think this is a deliberate, calculated snub of Australia,’’ he said.

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media_camera Executed ... Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran inside Kerobokan Jail.

The comments came after the ­island nation’s disgraceful handling of the executions of Australians ­Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, which included announcing on Anzac Day when the pair would face the firing squad and the country’s ­attorney-general yesterday describing the killings as a “success”, prompting Prime Minister Tony ­Abbott and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop to gravely conclude relations between the countries “cannot be simply business as usual”.

The Daily Telegraph understands the duo, with the support of Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and senior foreign policy advisers, made the ­decision several days ago.

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media_camera Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Indonesia's President Joko Widodo / Picture: Andrew Taylor

Mr Abbott yesterday described the executions as “cruel” and a “dark moment” in the crucial relationship between the two nations.

Australia’s embassy in Jakarta is our largest across the globe, with more Australian diplomats than in Washington. The site of a car bombing in 2004 that killed nine, it is to be replaced by a larger, $230 million embassy to open later this year.

Also underlining the close relationship is the fact Australia gives more aid to Indonesia than any other nation, $605 million this ­financial year, but that is likely to be reduced as part of the pre-planned aid cuts in next month’s federal Budget. Mr Abbott, whose appeals for Chan and Sukumaran were ignored by Indonesian President Joko Widodo, said Australia had to take a stand.

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“It is very unusual, indeed unprecedented, for an ambassador to be withdrawn, so I don’t want to minimise the gravity of what we’ve done,’’ Mr Abbott said.

“We respect Indonesia’s sovereignty but we do deplore what’s been done and this cannot be simply business as usual.

“Once all the courtesies have been extended to the Chan and Sukumaran families our ambassador will be withdrawn for consultations.”

Indonesia’s Attorney-General HM Prasetyo yesterday down Australia’s recall of its ambassador, describing it as a “temporary reaction”.

“It’s just a momentary reaction,” he said. “What we’re doing is carrying out court decisions.”

media_camera Myuran Sukumaran. media_camera Andrew Chan.

The comments came after he had added to the global ­revulsion by describing the executions as “perfect” and a “success. “All worked, no misses,” Mr Prasetyo said.

The Indonesian embassy in Canberra said its ambassador Nadjib ­Riphat Kesoema would not be ­recalled to Jakarta, having been recalled following revelations in 2013 Australia had phone-tapped former ­Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

President Widodo, who had the opportunity to commute the death sentences but did not even read the appeals from Chan, Sukumaran and 62 others, defended the executions. “This is our rule of law, the rule of law concerning the death penalty,” he said. “We also respect the laws of other countries.”

Mr Abbott will take no further action other than pre-planned aid cuts. The recalling of the ­ambassador will not impact the running of the embassy.

Information sharing between federal police will continue, as well as lucrative trade deals and discussions between agencies over illegal boats.

Ambassador Paul Grigson will remain in Indonesia until the Bali Nine families return home.