Reprieve for WA Jakarta mission
An outcry over the proposed closure of WA's Jakarta trade office has prompted the State Government to increase the State's representation in Indonesia instead.
The apparent U-turn comes after lobbying by the Pastoralists and Graziers Association, Indonesia Institute, Australian-Indonesian Business Council and three Government backbenchers in reaction to the plan revealed in September.
The future of the office was up in the air after the Government considered how to deal with the expiration of regional director Kellie-Jane Pritchard's contract on December 31.
One option being considered was to close the Department of State Development's premises in Jakarta in favour of embedding a WA trade officer within the city's Australian embassy.
But Colin Barnett yesterday said the Government had "listened to industry groups and business operators who have asked for more assistance with the Indonesian market".
The regional director vacancy will be filled and supported by tourism and agricultural officers as the State tries to diversify its relationship with its closest neighbour.
"WA's exports to Indonesia were valued at $1.6 billion in 2013-14, but there has been no growth in the value of exports other than wheat and crude oil from 2003 to 2013," Mr Barnett said.
The Government will attempt to secure a heavy hitter for the regional director post after Mr Barnett told Parliament in October: "We do not as a State have connections into the higher levels of government and business in Indonesia, as we do with virtually every other trade office."
AIBC chairman Phil Turtle, who travelled to Indonesia with Liberal backbenchers Nigel Hallett, Brian Ellis and Phil Edman late last year canvassing reaction to the proposed closure, said he was pleased "common sense prevailed".
"It made no sense to us at all and suggested Indonesia was being treated as the poor cousin in terms of WA's trading partners," Mr Turtle said.
Indonesia Institute president Ross Taylor said there was no better time to boost ties between the countries amid reduced friction over asylum seekers and the election of the "open for business" new President Joko Widodo.
"It's an astonishing opportunity," he said. "A hundred million people will move into the middle-class in Indonesia in the next 12 years."
'It suggested Indonesia was being treated as the poor cousin.' "AIBC chairman *Phil Turtle *
