Australia hopes for stronger cooperation with new governor

Andra Wisnu ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Denpasar   |  Mon, 09/01/2008 11:05 AM  |  Bali

Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Bill Farmer says he is looking forward to stronger cooperation with newly elected governor Made Mangku Pastika, offering a broad description of possible future joint efforts between Australia and Bali.

During his congratulatory visit to Pastika at the Sekar Tunjung Center in Denpasar on Wednesday, Farmer said the Australian government and Bali provincial administration still had a wide range of issues that needed to be dealt with.

"There are many areas where we can cooperate, not only of course between the Australian police and the Indonesian police in Bali, but also in looking at ways tourism can be encouraged and made safer," he said.

Australia remains one of Bali's biggest source of tourists despite a travel warning issued by the Australian government following the 2002 and 2005 bombings, which killed a total of more than 240 people, including 92 Australians.

The number of Australian tourists decreased sharply following the attacks but has been recovering recently, with July seeing the highest-ever number of tourists visiting Bali compared with any other month of this year, according to Farmer.

Indonesia has called for the Australian government to lift its travel warning to further boost Bali's tourism industry, but Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made it clear the warning would not be downgraded.

The calls became louder after the United States recently revoked its travel warning, saying the security climate in the island no longer warranted the warning.

Farmer acknowledged that Bali's tourism industry had re-emerged thanks to the efforts by the Indonesian police in preventing terrorist attacks.

He said he hoped to maintain cooperation between the two countries' police forces.

Farmer also said Australia was eager to cooperate with Pastika in advancing Bali's economy, citing the importance of a strong economy in providing access to healthcare and education.

Pastika, who was installed as Bali governor replacing Dewa Baratha on Thursday, had a closed meeting with Farmer before the press conference.

"We both talked about a possible cooperation agreement with the Australian government, specifically on health issues," he said.

He used as an example the A$10.5 million (US$9.07 million) Australia donated to the government-owned Indera hospital. The donation enabled the hospital to become the most sophisticated eye-care facility on the island.

Many analysts believe Pastika's strong international network was a crucial factor behind his landslide victory in the July 9 election.

"His familiarity with global issues and his international network will enable him to increase the pace of the tourism industry's recovery as well as placing Bali in a more prominent position on the global stage," analyst Nyoman Wiraatmadja said.

"That's why he won strong support from the Balinese, particularly those who work in the tourism industry."

Before election day Pastika had met Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty and received an endorsement from several foreign and honorary consuls in Bali.

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