New Indonesian studies centre to improve ties with our northern neighbour

"Tapsell also said he hoped the centre would be “independent of government direction”.

“There is more to the relationship than just the current asylum seeker debate. And what is really needed is to establish centres, like this one, that can get a new generation of Australians to be more interested in Indonesia and hopefully learning Indonesian language.”

“Of course, a lot of Australians do go to Indonesia but they tend to go to Bali just for a holiday… we need to go beyond that for a greater understanding of the issues which affect our neighbours,” Tapsell said. He hoped the new centre would help change and shape the way Australians thought about Indonesia and Indonesian stereotypes."