Minister meets with Indonesian counterpart

Australia will announce a decision on shifting its Israel embassy from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv in December.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne

Foreign Minister Marise Payne says consular officials in Beijing are seeking urgent clarification on the detention of Australian citizen Yang Hengjun (AAP) Source: AAP

Foreign Minister Marise Payne insists Australia's controversial proposal to move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem won't overshadow an upcoming meeting with her Indonesian counterpart.

Senator Payne will on Friday attend the Bali Democracy Forum which will be hosted Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi.

Labor's foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong asked Senator Payne if the government flagging a possible embassy shift from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem - first raised during the Wentworth by-election - would be discussed in Indonesia.

"Will the minister seek to undo the damage done by Mr Morrison's decision to put domestic political interests before Australia's national interest?" Senator Wong said in question time.

Senator Payne said a review of the embassy location was ongoing and confirmed Prime Minister Scott Morrison would announce the outcome in December.

The proposal cast doubt over a free trade agreement with Indonesia, which has the largest Muslim population in the world.

While Senator Payne wouldn't be drawn on when the deal with Australia's northern neighbour will be signed, she did say it couldn't be "conflated" with the embassy issue.

"It will be signed when it is ready to be signed," the foreign minister said.


Share
Published 5 December 2018 4:10pm
Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world