This week marks the launch of a free-trade agreement between Australia and Indonesia. Yet, Australians know very little of our most populous neighbour, according to a study from the Lowy Institute. Only 36% of the 2,400 Australians surveyed knew that Indonesia is a democracy. Yet this is just the start of our perceptions about the country. Even at a peripheral level our understanding is very shallow. Many Australians also believe Bali is a separate country to Indonesia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“As much as Australians express their love of Bali, equally, they express their suspicion and ignorance about the rest of Indonesia.”<\/em><\/p>Ross Taylor, President of Perth’s Indonesia Institute<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Indonesia is one of the most linguistically and ethnically diverse countries in the world with a population of 267 million people and encompassing over 17,000 islands. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Religious diversity is another feature of Indonesia. Although it doesn’t have a dominant state religion, the state recognises six official faiths including Islam, Protestants, Christianity, Buddism, and Confucianism. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n