Indonesian Parliamentary delegation visits the AIC

Transport connectivity, aquaculture and health were among the topics discussed when an Indonesian parliamentary delegation visited the Australia-Indonesia Centre at Monash Caulfield.

The visit was focussed on improving the parliamentarians’ understanding of Australian strategic and economic policy and investment in the bilateral relationship.

The delegation was made up of Ravindra Airlangga and Alia Noorayu Laksono (Golkar), Amelia Anggraini (NasDem) and Rocky Candra (Gerindra).

They met with key PAIR researchers including Professor Andreas Ernst (Monash), Professor Daniel Prajogo (Monash), A/Professor Sherah Kurnia (University of Melbourne), Dr Misita Anwar (Monash), Dr Anne Suryani (Monash) and A/Professor Sharyn Graham Davies (Monash).

The delegation was supported by Emma Roberts and Kate Fletcher of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

The session was moderated by AIC head of communications and outreach, Helen Brown, who spoke of the Centre’s role in dealing with the key challenges of our time such as climate change.

PAIR program manager Marlene Millott described the work of PAIR in research relating to seaweed, digital economy, young people, women and overcoming family violence, as well as supporting innovations such as the disability centre at Universitas Hasanuddin.

Professor Daniel Prajogo talked about improvements in seaweed farming and cultivation through effective monitoring.

He said effective monitoring could help seaweed farmers harvest at the most opportune time, maximising profitability.

“The process of the farming itself is the problem if the farmer harvests not at the right time,” Prajogo said.

“If they wait just for a few more days, then the quality of the seaweed will be better.

Prajogo explained how the supply chain from the farmer to the end user was long with many intermediaries “with too many handovers” in the processes of washing, drying and transporting.

He also talked of the possibility of regulation to encourage the processing of seaweed in Indonesia rather than in China which is usually the final export destination.

Professor Andreas Ernst, who previously researched the Makassar-Parepare railway, talked about the importance of transport systems and maximising benefits through the use of data.

“While we often think of creating something like a railway or a port, those by themselves are really useless if the system as a whole isn’t connected,” Ernst said.

“You have to have a system-level understanding of how these things connect, how they interact and the benefits from effective coordination.”

The session also provided opportunities for the delegates to ask questions and glean insights from the PAIR researchers.

A/Professor Sharyn Graham Davies, director of the Herb Feith Indonesia Engagement Centre at Monash University, described research by Monash and Universitas Hasanuddin into family violence and the lack of support services available for women during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There were a few incredible women, often domestic violence survivors, who opened their own homes to women who were experiencing domestic violence,” she said.

“But often they were putting their own lives at risk…. We found a shortage of access points for women who were trying to leave situations of violence.”

The session also allowed time for questions from the delegation, which generated discussion about several topics including forestry policies and using indigenous knowledge to protect ecosystems.

The DFAT-hosted delegation was keen to meet with people who have an interest in Indonesian affairs and learn about the research engagement and partnerships between both countries.

Feature image by the Australia-Indonesia Centre.