The problem has been caused by the ABC using the information politically.
They appear to have had the information for some months but waited
till after the election to publish it.
I would have thought they would have committed some offence by releasing
this information, but perhaps not. If not, it should be.
If it was wartime they would have been put before a firing squad.

If no action is taken against the ABC then we have lost the plot completely.

SPQR,

It's no use getting into a slanging match about who did what in times gone by.

The bottom line is that Abbott can hardly utter a phrase without inserting the words "stop da boats" - and guess whose cooperation he needs to bring that about?

And that's besides all the other reasons to look after our relationship with Indonesia.

I presume his orders to thumb his nose at diplomacy in this instance came from higher echelons - Abbott merely being a not very polished marionette for LNP power players - his speech which he read out would have been crafted by others.

So strategically all this appears to be quite silly and self-defeating...nice for Australians with weak egos to have a bit of a chest thump, but no real help to the nation.

Here's an article which marks out the challenges ahead:

http://www.theage.com.au/comment/off-we-go-again-on-the-indonesia-rollercoaster-20131119-2xt8i.html

Poirot,

<<It's no use getting into a slanging match about who did what in times gone by>>
No it's very pertinent-- because Mr Marty Natalegawa is now playing holier than thou and saying they would NEVER stoop so low!

And as for:
<< all the other reasons to look after our relationship with Indonesia>>

ROFL

The sort of relationship you describe reminds me of a relationship you might have with a school yard bully

Give me hundreds of million$ in aid
Give me access to you best agricultural land
Give my special forces, KOMPAS, training

But unless you say sorry we are going to "review relations with you"

Well, perhaps, we should review the training and funding of the Free Papuan Army.

SPQR,

Nice to see you maintaining your standards...

"ROFL" is about as deep as it gets with you.

Oh well.....

Okay....let's see how Mr Clever-pants Abbott fares by maintaining his line.

Should be fun to watch!

Dear Poirot,

Of course what you've said makes sense amd Abbott
should have been more diplomatic. However, considering
Indonesia's history and Mr Abbott's previous bowing
to them, I was simply glad that this time he stood up
as a leader. It can't always be about them and their
way. Or can it? I suppose it can with them having a
massive military and a history of violent colonialism.
Anyway, I'll go and sit in the naughty corner now and
keep my mouth shut and next time I'll try th think a
bit more before posting. It simply was a gut reaction on my
part - "Way to Go Mr Abbott!" That was what I was feeling
at the time and I gave our PM the thumbs up!

Harking back to this Indonesian admission:

<<the outgoing intelligence chief with agency Badan Intelijen Negara [said]...spies had targeted Australians [tried to recruit Australians]>>

Just an after thought--were you in Indonesia around 2004?