Australia-Indonesia Strengthen Cooperation to Combat Scam

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Australian Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke announced that Australia will strengthen its cooperation with Indonesia to combat online fraud, or scam, which is a transnational crime.

Burke stated that the Australian Federal Police has been collaborating with the Indonesian National Police (Polri) to locate the centers of these scams.

“We are currently utilizing all our capabilities to make every effort to identify these scam centers and then take action against them,” said Tony after the Indonesia-Australia Ministerial Council Meeting on Law and Security (MCM) at the Ritz-Carlton Mega Kuningan, Jakarta, on Thursday (22/10/2026).

Additionally, Burke confirmed that Australia is deploying AUSTRAC, the agency responsible for tracking financial flows and conducting financial investigations, to assist in the fight against scams.

“The partnership between our two countries has actually been underway even before this meeting. In this meeting, we reaffirmed our commitment to continue and deepen that cooperation,” he stated.

Burke also emphasized Australia’s support for Indonesia in combating online fraud wherever its operations are based.

“Wherever these scam centers are located, they are a problem for the whole world. As a friend of Indonesia, Australia stands fully in solidarity with Indonesia and wants to help eliminate these scam hubs,” Burke remarked.

Previously, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Dudung Abdurachman revealed six main issues discussed at the 12th Indonesia-Australia Ministerial Council Meeting on Law and Security (MCM) on Thursday (22/10/2026).

“In today’s meeting, we issued a Joint Communique or joint statement between Indonesia and Australia. Among them are the strengthening of strategic partnerships, maritime security enhancement, counter-terrorism, combating transnational crime, bolstering border security, and cybersecurity,” said Minister Dudung.

The meeting was led directly by Minister Dudung from the Indonesian side and Australia’s Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke.

Dudung stated that the meeting resulted in a joint statement, or Joint Communique, which serves as the basis for both countries to follow up on the discussions through more concrete cooperation.

According to Dudung, cooperation between the two countries is essential to enhance coordination and increase capacity in addressing security challenges.

He emphasized that these challenges cannot be solved by one country alone and require international cooperation.