BALI DEMOCRACY FORUM

Nusa Dua, Bali

10 December 2009

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‘Promoting Synergy between Democracy and Development in Asia: Prospects for Regional Cooperation’

Opening Session and General Debate

Leaders. Ministers. Distinguished guests Ladies and gentlemen.

I would like to begin by acknowledging our co-chairs - President of the Republic of Indonesia, HE Dr S B Yudhoyono and Prime Minister of Japan, HE Yukio Hatoyama – and Indonesian Foreign Minister, HE Dr Natalegawa.

It’s an honour to be here today representing the Government of Australia.

In his address to the first Bali Democracy Forum last year Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, said that Australia was “proud to support” Indonesia in this “important regional initiative”.

Prime Minister Rudd, in his role as 2008 co-chair, went on to say that we should aim to see democracy’s reach in the region expanded, and that building and consolidating democracy represented “a strategic agenda for Asia.”

This is because democracy has a vital role to play in fostering peace and security and encouraging sustainable economic growth and development in Asia.

What makes this a defining issue for our regional agenda is that in this century, the Asia-Pacific is poised to become the world’s centre of gravity, as political, economic, military and strategic influence move to our part of the world.

How we govern our countries therefore will have significant global implications in this, the “Asia Pacific Century”.

Indonesia and Democracy

Indonesia’s extraordinary transformation to democracy merits special praise.

Indonesia is now the world’s third largest democracy after India and the United States and one of the region’s most vibrant democracies. Freedom of speech is respected and protected. Voter turnout is consistently among the highest in the world.

What the government of Indonesia and the people of Indonesia have achieved in attaining democracy – peacefully and within Indonesia’s constitutional framework – provides a shining example for the region and the rest of the world.

Two things remain constant, however, amidst this regional diversity. Firstly, democracy underpins the goal of sustainable development. Secondly, democracy cannot succeed without first establishing the rule of law.

Democracy and Development

When we speak of sustainable development we mean more than just economic growth.

Development is also about improving the quality of people’s lives. This occurs through the reduction of poverty, the delivery of education, social and health services on an equitable basis, and by enabling people to participate and have a say in the decisions that affect their lives.

The fact is that responsive and accountable governments are more robust, make better policy decisions and are better able to withstand and respond to external shocks, such as the recent global financial crisis. They are also more capable of delivering improved quality of life for their citizens. This is what Indonesia is doing for its citizens.

Democracy and the Rule of Law

The rule of law is fundamentally important for a democracy.

Democracies rely on accountable institutions and transparent political processes, including:

The rule of law provides the foundation for all of these democratic institutions and practices.

Australia’s Role

I’d now like to turn to examples of the ways in which Australia supports democracy, development and the rule of law in our own region, starting with our support for Indonesia’s efforts through this forum and the work of the Bali Institute for Peace and Democracy.

The A$3 million package announced by the Prime Minister last year included funding to establish a partnership between Australia’s Centre for Democratic Institutions and the Bali Institute for Peace and Democracy, as well as financial support for scholarships to support the Institute’s core themes and principles.

Australia is working closely with Indonesia on other projects that strengthen democratic institutions, including in areas such as corporate governance, public sector accountability and oversight, human rights, and police-to-police training and capacity-building.

Earlier this week I attended the Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement and Cooperation, known as JCLEC (pron: J-C-leck).

JCLEC – established through the Australia-Indonesia partnership – is a prime example of a regional initiative producing quality outcomes on law and enforcement across the Asia Pacific.

More broadly Australia’s international development assistance program reflects the view that democracy supports sustainable development and that the rule of law is necessary for democracies to function successfully.

Through AusAID Australia is implementing a new regional initiative ($140 million over four years) to support improving governance and accountability in government.

This initiative will work across the region:

  1. to strengthen engagement between citizens and government;
  2. to develop leadership capabilities;
  3. to support public sector effectiveness and accountablity; and
  4. to assist anti-corruption.

Australia is also undertaking a wide range of bilateral initiatives to support legal reform and public sector reform in the region.

Conclusion

Support for democracy in Asia involves long-term processes that must be guided by each nation from within.

It is for this reason that the Bali Democracy Forum, as a regionally driven initiative, plays a uniquely valuable role.

I would like thank our co-chairs for their initiatives and their leadership.

I would also like to congratulate Indonesia – and President Yudhoyono in particular - for once again showing great leadership in convening the 2009 second Bali Democracy Forum.

Thanks in large part to President Yudhoyono’s vision, supported by his excellency Foreign Minister Dr Natalegawa and the former Foreign Minister Dr Wirajuda, I’m confident that democracy in Asia will thrive into the future, providing benefits to all citizens of the countries that are participating here today.

I am honoured to participate on behalf of Australia.

Thank you.