Redefining our relationship with Indonesia

Australia's relationship with Indonesia has always been defined by our neighbour being poorer and weaker than us. But what would happen if that relationship was flipped? That is the subject of a talk by Professor Hugh White at ANU tonight. Professor White said economists have predicted that by 2040 Indonesia could have the fourth largest economy in the world, becoming one of Asia's great powers. He says that means Australia needs to decide what relationship we want with our near neighbour now. "Wealth is the deepest source of national power. If Indonesia's economy grows over coming decades, it will become much more powerful in many other ways as well," Professor White said. "It will start to play a much bigger role in wider Asian strategic affairs than it has so far.