I'm sure President Yudhoyono is happy with the one way passage idea of a welcoming Australia that relieves him of problems.   After his Middle Eastern economic migrants have passed through customs at Soekarno Hatta and contributed to the local economy in hotels, shopping malls, restaurants and the like, they become a problem if they stay too long.

I hope Mr Rudd reminded the President of our sovereignty too.   We have a border Mr President and it's ours to protect.  We know that Indonesia values its borders.   We wouldn't dream of interfering with shipping within your territory and we're sure that when an Indonesian vessel with its Indonesian crew returns to its Indonesian port of embarkation there'll always be a smiling Selamat Datang for her and all who sail in her.

Only the pamphlet formerly known as the Sydney Morning Herald could turn that into ABBOTT, ABBOTT, ABBOTT.   I've included the photo in the SMH article for the purpose of commenting on the caption, "not so popular".  Never let a chance go by!    

Indonesian criticism of a policy that stops boats crossing our borders.  Appalling.

Indonesia takes aim at Abbott plan

Indonesia's President has delivered a sharp diplomatic rebuke to Tony Abbott's signature ''turn back the boats'' policy, signing a communique warning against ''unilateral'' actions that could lead to ''operational and other difficulties'' between nations.

The communique, signed by Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd after a meeting yesterday, reinforces both countries' emphasis on regional solutions to the people smuggling problem.

''They stressed the importance of avoiding unilateral actions which might jeopardise such a comprehensive regional approach and which might cause operational or other difficulties to any party,'' the statement said.

Not so popular: Tony Abbott's boat policy. Photo: Penny Stephens

This report in the SMH is almost unbelievable in its partisan audacity.   Who do they write for?   The economic interests of Indonesia?  This paragraph is in the SMH report, carried by and Australian paper written for Australians. 

Indonesian officials agreed the phrase did, at least in part, target Mr Abbott's policy, which has caused widespread consternation in Jakarta because it means Indonesia has to look after any returned asylum seekers and it could threaten their sovereignty.

Crikey.  Indonesia would have to look after people already in Indonesia if they can't come to Australia.   Fancy having a plan like that.  Who does Abbott think he is, the putative steward of the Australian people's interests or what!

Rudd and President Yudhoyono sign a communique, so the Australian bit is Rudd.   And true to form with all he touches, whether it's the lives of the thousand plus who've drowned, the hundreds of homes burnt, the young men killed in ceilings, the debt or the greatest moral challenge of our time - the first imperative is the political fight with the Opposition.

It would be nice to have a secure, non weird and genuine leader who really wanted to be the leader of our nation.   Not some permanent, low rent political scrapper.