Indonesia a key partner in joint fight against terrorism: Aust'n attorney-general

Australia's attorney-general said Wednesday he is "very confident" that Australian and Indonesian authorities have terrorism in the area under control.

Speaking from Indonesia ahead of a meeting between 20 counter-terrorism ministers from Oceania and southeast Asia this week, George Brandis praised Indonesia's role in fighting terrorism in the region.

"Indonesia has been an extremely helpful partner to Australia and I would go so far as to say that Australia and Indonesia together have led our region in the development of counter-terrorism strategies," Brandis told the ABC on Wednesday.

Brandis said that while it is impossible to guarantee complete safety from terrorist attacks, Indonesia and Australia have done as much as possible to counter the threat.

"We are very confident that the Indonesian authorities do have the situation under control," Brandis said on Wednesday.

"Of course, no country including Indonesia is immune from the threat. We saw that in Jakarta in January. But we've had terrorist outrages of course in Australia as well.

"But the Australian Government and Australia's police and intelligence authorities are working in a close partnership with their Indonesian counterparts to ensure that Indonesia's capability, our sharing of information with them, our co-operation ... is as good as it can be."

Justice Minister Michael Keenan, who will join Brandis at the ministerial summit in Bali, said the number of Australians who visit Indonesia each year made a strong relationship of paramount importance.

"Our national interest is in having the closest possible co-operation with Indonesian security agencies," Keenan told Fairfax Media on Wednesday. Endit