Scott Morrison’s review of the potential relocation of Australia’s embassy in Israel will consider the impact of the decision on the bilateral trade deal with Indonesia, Trade Minister Simon Birmingham has suggested.
The Prime Minister publicly clashed this week with his predecessor, Malcolm Turnbull, who said the decision to consider moving Australia’s embassy had been received badly in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim nation.
Mr Turnbull’s rebuke of the decision came after he represented Mr Morrison at a meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
Senior Indonesian government sources and Indonesia experts say Jakarta could be tempted to delay the signing of the bilateral free-trade deal — which was expected to be signed as soon as this month — if Canberra followed through with the embassy move.
Senator Birmingham was asked whether the review, which is yet to begin, would consider any fallout on the trade deal.
“In terms of the embassy decision, well, that will be a full and thorough and proper and considered process,” he told Sky News.
Read the article by Primrose Riordan in The Australian.