After 20 years, it's about how well we live; not just how long we live....
Saturday 28th December 2013 Twenty years ago today, in the middle of a dynamic and demanding career whilst based in Singapore, I received the news that almost everyone, at some time in their lives, truly fears: “I am sorry, but you have cancer.” Sadly, it was a cancer that had already spread, or ‘metastasised’ as they like to say in the medical world. This would mean returning to Perth where the doctors had a better understanding of malignant melanoma and where I would undergo more surgery, chemo and radiotherapy over a four month…
It's time to tell Indonesia to get their act together and support us with our boat people problem!
The Prime Minister, Tony Abbott has publically announced that, “It is high-time a singularly unhelpful Indonesia resumed co-operation with Australia on the asylum seeker issue...and other issues...” What our PM meant of course was, “...and other issues that are of interest to us .”And that of course is why the relationship is now stuck and going nowhere; with the exception that Indonesia’s attitude towards Australia is becoming more ambivalent as the weeks roll by. So I thought I should write a terse letter to the Indonesia President, Susl…
The 'tyranny of closeness' tests Indo-Australian relations
It was Geoffrey Blainey’s famous book, ‘ The Tyranny Of Distance’ that crystallised Australia’s realposition in the world, but it was in WA that Curtin University’s former head of humanities, ProfessorColin Brown who cleverly coined the phrase, ‘ The Tyranny of Closeness’ when referring to our nearest neighbour, Indonesia. According to Professor Brown, the problem with being very close neighbours is that not only do you “tend to peer into each other’s backyard, but also from time-to-time do things that actually annoy each other”. Thes…
Indo spying outrage more complicated than meets the eye
Tony Abbott’s new Coalition government is facing its first diplomatic test as Indonesia reacts with outrage over the alleged spying within their country by Australian officials based at our embassy in Jakarta. The reaction from Indonesia’s foreign minister, Dr Marty Natalegawa, has been so critical and outspoken that it has been suggested Indonesia may even withdraw support from Australia on a number of programs, including people smuggling. Whilst most countries would be incensed to learn that they are being spied upon (just look at G…
The Heart Foundation and why sugar is NOT a problem???
“Down, down, prices are down”. If you haven’t heard this ditty by now you probably live on Mars. Most of us find it rather annoying, yet it is such a catchy tune– thanks to Status Quo from the seventies era - it’s hard to get it out of your mind! And whilst Coles are reaping the rewards from their campaign to bring prices down, down , there is another reality facing both the retailers and consumers alike: Our obesity levels are, “Up, up and staying up”. Ironically, as we celebrate our young athletes at the Olympics, the reality for man…
Asylum seekers: Problem solved; or just moved to Indonesia?
Tony Abbott has correctly pointed out that under his new government the reduction in the number of asylum seekers taking the dangerous journey between Indonesia and Christmas Island has dropped by “almost 90%.” Already over 600 people, seeking asylum in Australia, have been stopped by Indonesian authorities giving the PM plenty of scope to claim a major coupe in his goal of ‘stopping the boats’. So has the problem been solved? Or have we simply ‘pushed back’ the problem to Indonesia? Before we address this question it is worth looking a…
GST wil never be increased..and pigs can fly!!
Get use to it folks. The GST will be increased. It's just a matter of when. So how do I know this 'inside' information? Logic. Simple as that. And if you don't think I am right in saying that our political leaders will increase the rate and expand the range of GST, then read on: Firstly, just consider how many people, like me who are the baby boomer generation, now getting ready to retire. Only one problem: Most of us don't have enough super in which to live on. "Oh, that's OK", you say. "They can go…
'Bali Bogan-Brains' are at it again..this time about APEC airport delays!
Here we go again. "My holiday to Bali has 'gone' wrong' and it's Bali's fault": Of course; isn't it always? Australians love Bali; our island paradise. But we also love to 'bag' Bali whenever things go wrong and more than often when things go wrong due to our own stupidity or bad behaviour. So now we have the 'Bogan-Brain Brigade' at it again. This time blaming Bali for cancelled and delayed flights due to the APEC Conference this week. Sure, could the authorities have done it better? Cer…
Abbott's pragmatism in Jakarta has set the scene; now it's Indonesia's turn
By Ross B. Taylor AM Tony Abbott has, depending on which way you look at it, simply capitulated to his Indonesian hosts during his recent visit to Jakarta, or exercised great humility and pragmatism towards a country that will play an enormous role in our region in the future. Within Indonesia it is being seen as the latter, and that can only be a good thing for both countries. But now that our prime minister has formally acknowledged Australia’s mistakes in the handling aspects of the bi-lateral relationship, the issue is whether …
Indonesia-Australia relations: Looking beyond...‘Beef, Boats and Bali’.
By Ross B. Taylor AM The PM-elect Tony Abbott got off to a good start in building trust and a good working relationship with Indonesia. His telephone conversation last week with Indonesia’s president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, (SBY) has set the scene for both countries to co-operate in the implementation of the coalition’s ‘turn back the boats’ policy. Indonesia knows that good relations between our two countries are critical at this time throughout the region, and particularly as both the USA and China are now positioning themselv…
Presidential Friend of Indonesia 2013
In July of this year Ross Taylor was selected by the Indonesian Government as Australia's 'Presidential Friend of Indonesia - 2013'. In August 2013 Ross joined ten other participants from nine countries, including Russia, Myanmar, East Timor, South Africa and Serbia as Presidential Friends of Indonesia. As guests of the Indonesian Government, Ross and his colleagues met President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and also several former presidents and vice presidents, the Sultan of Yogyakarta, and vice governor of Jakarta. The group a…
Bali does have a 'dark side' but look at the facts.....
Bali does have a 'dark side' as reported on the Nine Network's story tonight (Sunday 21st July 2013), but it is important to look at the facts: DFAT records of Australian deaths overseas in the past year: 1 Thailand 111 2 Philippines 68 3 Greece 60 4 Vietnam 54 5 US 51 6 Indonesia 48 (Bali: Approximately 40) 7 Germany 41 8 Hong Kong 40 9 China 38 10 UK 28 So yes, Bali does have a dark side, and as more and more Australians flock to our 'Island Paradise' and more and …
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