indonesian response to deteriorating situation, page-179

Agaunaut
"Eleven billion dollars worth of trade between Indonesia and Australia means Abbott should show the President of Indonesia at least a hint of contrition."


No he shouldn't!

11 Billion worth of trade which ends with Indonesia being 1.5 Billion dollars better off, with no positive gain for Australia.

Lets not forget the enormous amount of tourism we send their way.
Then there is the foreign aide which goes to line pockets of these scum bag governments.

It is the same with whole of ASEAN.

We would all be far better off if we didn't deal with any of them.
However a better solution would be to have large import tariffs applied to countries which Laws, Government and Police departments discriminate against Australian businesses.

Obviously where the balance of trade is very much in our favor there needs to be exceptions. But this is not the case in ASEAN so we should stop Kowtowing to countries whose people hate us and trading with them is of no benefit to us now or into the future.