Bapak bapak dan Ibu ibu. Saudarasaudara sekalian.

I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land in which we meet, the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples and pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging.

Im deeply honoured to have been asked by the authors to conduct the Australian launch of this important book on Indonesias future.

Chatib Basri was Finance Minister of Indonesia when I was I was Treasurer of Australia.

Weve remained friends and in regular contact.

I sometimes reflect on the fact that Chatib and I first met in the obvious half way meeting place of an Australian Treasurer and Indonesian Finance Minister: Moscow.

Chatib is of course not just a former Finance Minister, but also a very accomplished economist, who of course got his PhD in Economics from this university.

Mari Pangestu is one of Indonesias leading international economists. She was also Trade Minister when I was in the Australian Cabinet, but I have got to know her better after we both left executive office.

Australia has no better friend in Jakarta than Ibu Pangestu, which is a great honour for us. She is a valued friend.

And Arianto Patunru who has been, since 2012, an important member of the economics faculty here at ANU and a very important part of the economic academic infrastructure between our two countries.

These three distinguished individuals have, between them, edited an important and interesting book Indonesia in the New World.

The book deals directly with an issue important to all of us and one of my key public policy interests: the future of Indonesia, an area which in my view receives far too little attention in the Australian political discourse.

The book is clear in its support for Indonesia to embrace an open, outward looking and confident economic framework, eschewing protectionism.

Of course, economic decisions are entirely a matter for Indonesian policy and decision makers. They dont need the advice of those of us in Australia.

But friends of Indonesia can welcome the thorough analysis and policy rigour contained in this book.

Of course, openness versus economic nationalism is not a uniquely Indonesian debate at the moment.

Its a bit a hard for developed countries to lecture the emerging world about the importance of trade, openness and a rules based order when the developed world is in a crisis of confidence about these things itself.

But good, evidence based analysis, whilst it isnt always front and centre of the public debate is vital, and this book is full of that in the Indonesian context.

These are important debates in pretty much every country at the moment.

The book notes that in Indonesia product lines subject to some sort of import restriction rose from 9% in 2011 to 35% in 2016. But Indonesia is not alone here of course.

The World Trade Organisation notes that there has been an increase in the number of trade restrictive measures in G20 countries from 381 in 2010 to 1671 in 2016.

But the tension between openness and nativism is of course a long running and emotive debate in Indonesia.

I was struck by the quote from Chatib, in the book; Indonesia was born a free trader and yet is consistently reluctant to accept globalisation.

The book provides an interesting history of the ebbs and flows of globalisation and protection in Indonesia, from the earliest days of the port of Java to today.

There has always been a hope of Indonesia standing on its own feet, or berdiri atas kaki sendiri.

The key question is how?

And of course, the book doesnt blindly advocate openness, but a nuanced approach which embraces in the words of Professor Hal Hill and Deasy Pane a need to ensure that globalisation works to the benefit of the citizenry. In Indonesias case, that means a labour-intensive growth path, supply side reforms to increase efficiency, a tax system that is robust and progressive and social safety net programs to protect the poor and near poor.

So this is an important and substantial book.

For Indonesians and for Australians interested in Indonesia.

Deepening our relationship, smart engagement for mutual benefit, a less transactional relationship is one of my most interests in public policy.

Lifting the level of Australian literacy in Bahasa Indonesia and engagement in the challenges and opportunities in this very important neighbour has been a focus of mine and will continue to be.

And we are well served by such important interlocutors as Chatib, Mari and Arianto.

Congratulations on Indonesia in the New World.

And the warmest of good luck to our friends in the Indonesian policy making world as they navigate this journey.