❓ Question regarding the potential closure of the WA trade office in Indonesia and the need to increase WA's presence there to diversify the state's economy. The Premier confirms representation will be retained and addresses the level of high-level contacts.
AnsweredQoN 851Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
INDONESIA — WESTERN AUSTRALIAN TRADE OFFICE
851. Ms J.M. FREEMAN to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
(1) Given that Hon Brian Ellis believes that the closure
will cost WA business opportunities and given that we need those higher
level contacts, should the Premier not be increasing WA's presence in
Indonesia to help diversify the state's economy and making it clear
that the office will not close and will continue to have it stand alone?
(2) Should the Premier not make that
clear now?
851. Ms J.M. FREEMAN to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
(1) Given that Hon Brian Ellis believes that the closure
will cost WA business opportunities and given that we need those higher
level contacts, should the Premier not be increasing WA's presence in
Indonesia to help diversify the state's economy and making it clear
that the office will not close and will continue to have it stand alone?
(2) Should the Premier not make that
clear now?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thought that I had just answered that question. We are going to retain
representation in Indonesia. We do not have in Indonesia the high level
contacts that we have in other posts around the world. That has as much to do
with the structure of business within Jakarta and government. There has been a
change of government in Indonesia, and I intend to go to Indonesia in the new
year.
Mr
R.H. Cook : Why is there a delegation going?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Members of Parliament can travel, and I think Indonesia is
incredibly important to Australia and Western Australia. The government has
opened a new office in Singapore.
Mr
P. Papalia : That is because you closed it.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : No, we never had representation in Singapore. We have now
established a senior office in Singapore.
Mr
M. McGowan : You closed Malaysia.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : It is a different office with quite a different level of
representation. In Singapore we have contact at the highest level—ministers
and the Prime Minister himself—and we have two other voluntary or
honorary representatives, including former senior ministers, in Singapore who
help represent WA. We do not have the same level of connection in Jakarta that
we have in Singapore, and that is what we are addressing. We may choose to
embed someone within Austrade. We may choose to reappoint or appoint a new
person; we may choose to expand it. However, the objective is to reach into the
higher levels of government and business in Jakarta—something that I
think everyone agrees is not being achieved under the current model
thought that I had just answered that question. We are going to retain
representation in Indonesia. We do not have in Indonesia the high level
contacts that we have in other posts around the world. That has as much to do
with the structure of business within Jakarta and government. There has been a
change of government in Indonesia, and I intend to go to Indonesia in the new
year.
Mr
R.H. Cook : Why is there a delegation going?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Members of Parliament can travel, and I think Indonesia is
incredibly important to Australia and Western Australia. The government has
opened a new office in Singapore.
Mr
P. Papalia : That is because you closed it.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : No, we never had representation in Singapore. We have now
established a senior office in Singapore.
Mr
M. McGowan : You closed Malaysia.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : It is a different office with quite a different level of
representation. In Singapore we have contact at the highest level—ministers
and the Prime Minister himself—and we have two other voluntary or
honorary representatives, including former senior ministers, in Singapore who
help represent WA. We do not have the same level of connection in Jakarta that
we have in Singapore, and that is what we are addressing. We may choose to
embed someone within Austrade. We may choose to reappoint or appoint a new
person; we may choose to expand it. However, the objective is to reach into the
higher levels of government and business in Jakarta—something that I
think everyone agrees is not being achieved under the current model
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