International Public Seminar at the Deakin-Lancaster University Campus

Selamat pagi. [Good morning]

I want to thank Professor Greg Barton, for inviting me to visit the wonderful new Deakin-Lancaster University campus – and participate in this Seminar.

These are exciting times for Indonesia and Australia – and West Java and Victoria.

It’s exciting because our two countries are on the cusp of a new era of opportunity.

Next year marks the 20^th anniversary of the signing of the Lombok Treaty – with bilateral relations drawing ever closer.

This year alone there have been at least 10 high-level meetings between our national leaders.

In fact, the most recent forum – held in Sydney this month between President Prabowo Subianto and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese resulted in the signing of a landmark security pact.

In addition, Australia’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Rod Brazier, visited Bandung in June and this campus to discuss future opportunities for cooperation.

It can be easy to forget that engagement of this nature and cadence was once unfamiliar.

In the late 19^th century, Alfred Deakin – after whom this University was named – was one of the first public figures to envision the concept of Australia in the Indo-Pacific.

Deakin was a strong advocate for a Federation of the colonies to form of Australia, of which he would become the second Prime Minister.

He articulated the need for our nation to turn its attention to our immediate neighbours, and was also said to be the first to coin the term ‘Austral-asia’.

In 1893, he asked “…what can we know of Australia if we limit our inquiries within our borders, to neglect … those Asiatic empires which lie close to us, with whose future our tropical lands might yet be … identified?”

Deakin’s musings are an early example of a viewpoint which gained more traction over the ensuing decades, as Australia sought to balance new and old alliances – managing our colonial beginnings alongside our geography.

It was a question brought into sharp focus seventy years ago, in this very place, at the 1955 Bandung Conference.

At that important meeting, it was the Prime Minister of India who challenged Australians to “…come nearer to us and be part of Asia.”

Since that time, our geographical proximity has not changed, but the gap has narrowed.

I reflect on this history not only to emphasise how far we’ve come, but also to illustrate that building meaningful connections relies upon making choices.

Choices to be outward-looking, to be open to collaboration, and to be willing to learn together.

In this space there is significant opportunity for our institutions to contribute.

The wheels of diplomacy can turn slowly, and, while crucial, are also dependent on the tangible people-to-people links and cultural exchanges forged through places like this.

Internationalisation and globalisation have permeated education and research across the world, creating unrivalled capabilities and shared benefits for us to share.

Achieving success depends on having a clear strategy and demonstrating a long-term commitment to quality university education and research.

It also relies on partnerships, such as this one, to build and strengthen connections across borders.

Australia is now the most internationalised university education system of scale in the world, driven by a mission to share resources and build a broad engagement with the world – including Indonesia.

During my career in higher education, I saw firsthand Indonesia’s thriving and innovative community, and its great ambitions for the future.

Reaching our potential relies on furthering collaborations in global research, supporting professional development for graduates, and building partnerships with industry.

No country or education system will ever have all the answers by itself.

Education exchange is not only about coming to learn from another country’s expertise, but about coming into a country so we can learn together and from one another.

Victoria has eight public universities – including Deakin – with six ranked in the top 300 universities in the world and two ranked among the top 50;

And we have world-class research facilities such as the Australian Synchrotron, as well as the iconic Parkville medical research precinct.

And we have a diverse population.

Melbourne is the largest and fastest-growing capital city in Australia – with a population roughly twice the size the city of Bandung – although much smaller than the province in which Bandung is located.

We produce 30 per cent of Australia’s STEM graduates – and we are a magnet for highly-skilled migrants.

In addition, Victoria has one of the most diverse communities in the world – with almost one-in-three residents born overseas.

Our citizens come from 300 different cultural backgrounds, speak more than 290 languages and dialects, and follow almost 200 faiths.

This enormous diversity ensures we are a place where everyone is welcome, everyone belongs, and anyone can succeed.

Perhaps that is why Victoria is currently home to more than 9,000 Indonesian students.

In fact, the number of Indonesians studying in Victoria has increased by 80 per cent over the past decade.

That growth is not surprising.

We are proud of our global reputation as ‘the Education State’.

And we are proud that Victoria is ranked as Australia’s best student city – and the fifth-best student city in the world.

And – as an outward-looking state – we are constantly looking for new partners through our network of 24 Trade and Investment Offices around the world.

In case you are wondering, we do have a Trade and Investment Office in Jakarta – and our people are always happy to make new friends and talk business.

I mentioned President Prabowo earlier.

When the spoke in Sydney he made an interesting remark. He said:

“… we cannot choose our neighbours… it is our destiny to be direct neighbours – so let us face our destiny with the best of intentions.”

His statement reflects a fact that has always been true – the choice is not who, but how.

With that in mind, let me say this: Victoria is more than just a good neighbour – we are a good partner.

Due to the strength of universities, education is key to our development.

We are the education capital of Australia, and that means we are open to working with others such as West Java adapt to challenges, as well as grasp opportunities.

And – speaking as the representative of Australia’s most multicultural and open State – we are disposed to reach out to our friends.

Let me leave you with this thought.

I mentioned earlier that more than 9,000 Indonesian students are currently studying in Victoria.

That number is growing steadily. In fact, the number of Indonesians studying in Victoria has increased by 80 per cent over the past decade.

I believe there is scope for even more mutually-beneficial growth.

I believe Victoria and West Java can both prosper if we look for new ways to work together and learn from each other.

Terima kasih. [Thank you.]