The Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia Report of the Official Parliamentary Delegation to Singapore and Indonesia 28 October—8 November 2008 March 2009 Canberra © Commonwealth of Australia 2009 ISBN 978-0-642-79153-5 Contents FRONTPAGES Membership of the Delegation.............................................................................................................vi Objectives .........................................................................................................................................viii Singapore..................................................................................................................................viii Indonesia ..................................................................................................................................viii List of abbreviations ............................................................................................................................ix REPORT 1 Introduction ...........................................................................................................1 Singapore—Background Information...................................................................................... 1 Geography and Population ......................................................................................................... 1 Political Structure ........................................................................................................................ 2 Economic Overview .................................................................................................................... 4 Trade and Investment ................................................................................................................. 5 Foreign Policy ............................................................................................................................. 6 Indonesia—Background Information ...................................................................................... 6 Geography and Population ......................................................................................................... 6 Political Structure ........................................................................................................................ 7 Economic Overview .................................................................................................................. 10 Trade......................................................................................................................................... 10 Development Assistance........................................................................................................... 11 iv Central Kalimantan.................................................................................................................... 12 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................13 Australia.................................................................................................................................... 13 Singapore.................................................................................................................................. 14 Indonesia .................................................................................................................................. 15 2 Delegation Visit to Singapore ............................................................................19 Renewing links between the Australian and Singaporean Parliaments............................. 19 Parliament-to-Parliament .......................................................................................................... 19 Meetings with Government ....................................................................................................... 21 Political, Economic and Social Issues .................................................................................. 23 Water Management................................................................................................................... 23 Trade Unions............................................................................................................................. 28 Security..................................................................................................................................... 31 Defence..................................................................................................................................... 33 Scientific Research and Development ...................................................................................... 34 Air Services............................................................................................................................... 35 Global Financial Crisis .............................................................................................................. 37 Australia-Singapore Military History ..................................................................................... 38 People-to-People Links and Bilateral Relations................................................................... 40 Singapore-Australia Joint Ministerial Committee....................................................................... 41 Defence and Security................................................................................................................ 41 Trade......................................................................................................................................... 42 Environment.............................................................................................................................. 42 Reciprocal Visit ......................................................................................................................... 43 3 Delegation Visit to Indonesia.............................................................................45 Renewing Links between the Australian and Indonesian Parliaments .............................. 45 Parliament-to-Parliament .......................................................................................................... 45 Meetings with Government ....................................................................................................... 47 Political, Economic and Social Issues .................................................................................. 48 Security and Crime.................................................................................................................... 48 Migration ................................................................................................................................... 49 Global Financial Crisis .............................................................................................................. 49 v Strengthening Democracy.........................................................................................................50 Development Cooperation...................................................................................................... 53 Climate Change Initiatives ........................................................................................................ 53 Orangutan Conservation........................................................................................................... 58 Education.................................................................................................................................. 61 People-to-People Links and Bilateral Relations................................................................... 63 Travel Advisory ......................................................................................................................... 63 The Australia-Indonesia Institute...............................................................................................64 Arts and Culture ........................................................................................................................ 64 Education.................................................................................................................................. 65 Security..................................................................................................................................... 66 Economics and Trade ............................................................................................................... 68 Media Coverage....................................................................................................................... 69 APPENDICES Appendix A-Delegation Program..............................................................................71 Singapore ................................................................................................................................ 71 Indonesia ................................................................................................................................. 73 Appendix B-Media Clippings.....................................................................................75 Membership of the Delegation Leader Harry Jenkins MP Speaker of the House of Representatives Member for Scullin Deputy Leader Hon Bronwyn Bishop MP Member for Mackellar Members Hon Dr Sharman Stone MP Member for Murray Ms Sharon Grierson MP Member for Newcastle Mr Shayne Neumann MP Member for Blair vii Delegation Support Adviser to the Speaker Mr Chris