Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™

LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE starting June 12 2026

Indonesia should protect borders: Bishop

Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop says Indonesia should enforce sovereignty over its own borders if it's concerned about Australian border policy.

ISIS is using chlorine as a weapon, Australia's Foreign Minister says
File image of Foreign Minister Julie Bishop. Source: AAP

Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop has urged Indonesia to enforce sovereignty over its own borders amid claims Australian officials paid people smugglers to turn back an asylum seeker boat.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott continued to refuse to confirm or deny the reports over the weekend as Indonesia's Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi sought answers from Australia's ambassador Paul Grigson.

Ms Bishop told The Australian the best way for Indonesia to resolve its concerns about Operation Sovereign Borders was to "enforce sovereignty over its borders".

Labor's immigration spokesman Richard Marles says Australia has to have a co-operative relationship with Indonesia when it comes to asylum seeker boats.

Asked whether he agreed with Ms Bishop that Indonesia needed to get its own house in order, Mr Marles told ABC radio: "I don't think now is the time for the Australian government to be walking down that path."


1 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world