The parliament has passed FTA legislation with Indonesia and the Go8 is pleased

The coalition and Labor in the Senate combined to pass the enabling legislation for the free trade agreements with Indonesia, Peru and Hong Kong (as distinct from the PRC agreement) the other day.

But it was not for want of opposition from Greens and cross-benchers, persistently presented by Senator Steele-John (Greens WA).

Unlike the senator, the Group of Eight is pleased indeed with the legislation. “The value of FTAs cannot be underestimated,” CEO Vicki Thomson says. “(They) will build on our capacity to engage extensively with international partners, in our region, and around the world.”

Notably with Indonesia; the eighth largest international education market for Australia.  The Go8 is very keen on Indonesia and wants to see each nation able to establish campuses in the other, encouragement for more Indonesians to study here and research links to address the Indonesian perception that the US and Europe is where the research action is (CMM September 3).