Michael Bachelard
Michael Bachelard is Fairfax Media's Indonesia correspondent. A former political reporter and workplace relations writer, he was awarded a Jefferson Fellowship in journalism in 2005. He is the author of Behind The Exclusive Brethren.
Spy affair: Australians speak out in Indonesian press
Michael Bachelard The letters page of Indonesian newspaper The Jakarta Post is rapidly becoming another battleground for Australian citizens wanting to express loathing or devotion towards the Abbott government and...
Indonesia leaves Scott Morrison in dark on detention centres
Natalie O'Brien and Michael Bachelard The Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has not been officially told that Indonesia is planning to close its police detention centres and release all the asylum seekers that had been arrested for...
Jakarta extends bans on co-operation
Michael Bachelard and Heath Aston Indonesian police have now stopped any co-operation with Australia over counter-terrorism as a result of the phone tapping revelations in an indication that the crisis is escalating not diminishing.
Spy affair: Mending ties with Indonesia may take a year
Michael Bachelard Indonesia outlines a long and involved process before its proposed intelligence ''code of ethics'' can be signed.
Australia's relations with Indonesia will not be normalised for some time, say government insiders
Mark Kenny, Michael Bachelard, Heath Aston Relations between Canberra and Jakarta appear to be improving thanks to the letter Prime Minister Tony Abbott had hand-delivered at the weekend, but a senior government source said it would be some...
Tony Abbott refuses to commit to spy code of ethics, flags security round table
Dan Harrison, Michael Bachelard Prime Minister Tony Abbott has declined to immediately commit to the spying code of ethics demanded by Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
Indonesia considers buying beef from India and Brazil
Michael Bachelard Indonesian Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan confirms that the dispute with Australia over spying allegations has accelerated his country's desire to source beef from other countries.
Betrayal is SBY's bargaining chip
Michael Bachelard Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is undeniably furious about what he sees as a betrayal by a friend. But he and his ministers are not above using their anger over phone tapping as a great big bargaining chip...
PM must agree to spy 'code of ethics'
Michael Bachelard Indonesia's cooperation with Australia on people smuggling, trade, police and military exercises will stay on hold until after Tony Abbott has agreed to a 'code of ethics' for the use of intelligence.
Spy affair: Indonesia hints Tony Abbott's letter has done the trick
Michael Bachelard The Indonesian Trade Minister has confirmed that the dispute with Australia over spying allegations has accelerated the country's desire to source beef from other countries.
Indonesia spy row: talks have stalled, say Indonesians
Michael Bachelard Indonesia has flatly contradicted Immigration Minister Scott Morrison, saying talks between the two countries over people smuggling and asylum seekers have stalled because of the phone-tapping row.
Rift with Indonesia over spying deepens
Michael Bachelard Indonesia has said that talks with Australia over people smuggling and asylum seekers have stalled because of the phone-tapping row, flatly contradicting Immigration Minister Scott Morrison.
Abbott cartoonist recalled to ridicule PM
Justin Hale and Michael Bachelard The publication of a sexually lurid cartoon of Tony Abbott on the front page of Indonesia’s Rakyat Merdeka newspaper on Saturday is the second time in seven years that the same newspaper has courted...
Indonesia responds to reports of Australian phone tapping by setting up central intelligence committee
Michael Bachelard Indonesia has moved to strengthen its intelligence apparatus in response to revelations that Australia tapped the phone of its President.
Australia's reputation in Indonesia hits new low
Michael Bachelard Tony Abbott's image in Indonesia has hit a new low with a front-page cartoon in a serious political newspaper depicting him as a peeping Tom.
Indonesia suspends police co-operation in phone- tapping fallout
Michael Bachelard, Indonesia and Mark Kenny, Canberra The fallout over Australia's phone-tapping row with Indonesia has widened, with threats to the $174 million-a-year live cattle trade and the suspending of co-operation between the country's police...
Spy scandal: Indonesian calls for reprisals against beef trade, Schapelle Corby
Michael Bachelard Indonesia's police chief Sutarman has confirmed Australia's worst fears that the fallout from the spying row will hit at the heart of Tony Abbott's attempts to “stop the boats” as reprisals begin...
Embassy protest: eggs thrown, pictures of Tony Abbott burnt by Indonesians
AAP, Michael Bachelard The spying story continues to be front page news in Indonesia as the president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono waits for a full explanation from Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
Indonesian diplomatic crisis: Only full explanation will do, SBY tells Tony Abbott
Michael Bachelard, Mark Kenny, Karuni Rompies An apology will not be enough to smooth the waters with Indonesia, the letter from the Indonesian president to Tony Abbott makes clear - only a full explanation of the extent of Australia's spying...
Indonesians take anger to streets over phone-tapping scandal
Michael Bachelard and Mark Kenny Indonesian anger about Australian phone-tapping has spread from politicians to the streets with rowdy scenes outside the Australian embassy.
