Tak kenal maka tak saying (Out of sight, out of mind).

This Indonesian adage seems to ring true when it comes to Australians, who still lack trust in Indonesia to do good in the world, largely due to a lack of understanding, a recent survey has shown.

Despite efforts on both sides to deepen their relationship, the 2020 edition of the Lowy Institute Poll reveals that Australians’ trust in Indonesia has fallen to the lowest point since the survey was first conducted, with only 36 percent of respondents saying they trust Indonesia to act responsibly in the world – a 16-point fall from 2017 results.

The survey also found that only 39 percent of Australians agree that “Indonesia is a democracy”, up from 24 percent from two years ago, although the majority still disagrees with the statement.

“The poll still suggests a widespread lack of knowledge about Indonesia’s political system, as well as a lack of trust in Indonesia,” wrote Ben Bland, the director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Lowy Institute, in a statement to The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

“The lack of understanding and the lack of trust are interrelated. It’s hard to trust your neighbor if you don’t know them and vice versa.”

The findings come amid concerted efforts on both sides in recent years to strengthen their bond, culminating in President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s visit to Australia in February to finalize a landmark trade deal that aims to spur robust economic cooperation.

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