WA Premier Roger Cook begins tour of Indonesia with a focus on tourist and student visas, language in schools

Roger Cook wants the Indonesian tourist and student visa process simplified – and made much cheaper – as part of his push to cement ties between WA and the emerging Asian powerhouse. The Premier has also indicated a willingness to explore teaching Indonesian more widely in WA schools, one of the key recommendations from a recent parliamentary committee into the State’s trading relationship with its northern neighbour. Mr Cook arrived in Jakarta early on Saturday morning ahead of a week-long trade and investment mission – the biggest in the history of the State with more than 130 delegates – that begins with a series of discussions at the ASEAN Business Summit on Sunday. “Nine out of our 10 top trading partners are in Asia so it’s important that we here at the ASEAN Business Summit to really continue to grow our trade and investment opportunities, and to make sure that we can continue to grow our people-to-people ties and our business-to-business relationships,” he said. The Premier’s first international visit since replacing Mark McGowan boasts a sprawling agenda that includes focuses on critical minerals, energy, agriculture, tourism and international education. As former Tourism Minister Mr Cook is well versed in the obstacles preventing Indonesians from holidaying and studying in WA. “(Home Affairs Minister) Clare O’Neill has already said that we need to fix the immigration and the visa system that we have in Australia,” Mr Cook said. “She’s described it as broken – we agree entirely. “We think there’s great opportunities if we continue to streamline and appropriately process and not make too expensive the (visa) to come to Australia. “Whether that’s as a tourist, or as a student, or as a business partner – we need to make these links much easier to build on.” Also crucial to building those links, according to a report prepared by a parliamentary committee helmed by Labor MP Peter Tinley, is more widespread learning of the Indonesian language in WA. Mr Cook said wider availability of Indonesian in WA schools was “certainly something we need to look at” before highlighting Mines and Energy Minster Bill Johnston – who is also on the trade mission – had learned the language in high school. “He went on to spend some time in Indonesia with a host family and so obviously has deep relationships here in Indonesia and speaks the language, which is an important part of that engagement,” the Premier said. “So I certainly think language is an important part of that engagement strategy.” In addition to taking part in a panel discussion about south-east Asia’s “stability, security, and evolving role as the epicentre of growth”, Mr Cook will on Sunday meet with leaders of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “We know that Indonesia has got a particularly strong appetite for our critical minerals so we’ve brought a range of mining companies and interests to come and continue that conversation to see what opportunities might come from that,” he said.