Abbott 'not out to lecture Indonesians'

13 Oct 2012, 5:25 pm   -   Source: AAP
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says he won't lecture Indonesia over its stance on asylum seekers. (AAP)

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says he won't lecture Indonesia over its stance on asylum seekers. (AAP)

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says he is focused on enhancing co-operation on asylum seekers with the Indonesian government for when he is in power.

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Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says he's not visiting Jakarta to lecture the Indonesian government on taking a tougher stand against asylum seekers who use their territory as a springboard to Australia.

But he says Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and others have stated repeatedly that Australia needed to "take the sugar off the table" and remove attractions which give people smugglers a product to sell.

Mr Abbott says the Indonesians are well aware of opposition policy of turning back asylum seeker boats to Indonesian territory and also restoring temporary protection visas.

"They understand that turning boats around is but one element of that policy and the last thing I'm coming to Indonesia to do is to lecture," he told reporters in Jakarta.

"I'm coming here to listen, to learn and to indicate to the Indonesian government that as far as I'm concerned, Indonesia and its government should always be treated with respect and should always be dealt with as a candid friend."

Mr Abbott said he believed a coalition government under him could achieve the levels of co-operation with the Indonesian government necessary to ensure to stop the boats.

"Let's face it, under Prime Minister (John) Howard, those levels of co-operation were there. I'm confident that under the next coalition government we can have the same levels of co-operation," he said.

Mr Abbott and Prime Minister Julia Gillard visited Bali for the 10th anniversary of the 2002 Bali terrorist bombings.

Mr Abbott is spending three days in Indonesia conducting talks on a range of issues, including imports of Australian beef.

Indonesia reduced imports of Australian cattle after Labor suspended the trade in the wake of revelations of animal cruelty at some Indonesian abattoirs.

Mr Abbott said that was a very difficult period in the relationship between Australia and Indonesia.

"What I want to do is to try to explore a way forward that will be mutually beneficial for both countries," he said, adding that Indonesia's expanding middle class would inevitably eat more beef.

"Now, I think that it's possible for them to be more self-sufficient and at the same time for Australia to have growing export markets in beef here as well. So, that's what I hope to explore and discuss over the next couple of days," he said.

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