Interview 2 - Indonesia at Melbourne

Q&A: Amzulian Rifai, chair of the National Ombudsman

Founded 16 years ago, Indonesia’s National Ombudsman has often been dismissed as an ineffectual body. But the institution has recently received an injection of budget funds and its new members are widely seen as competent and committed individuals. Indonesia at Melbourne spoke to the new chair of the Ombudsman, Amzulian Rifai, about problems in public service delivery and how the Ombudsman is working to address them.

Q&A: My Kitchen Rules winners Tasia and Gracia

Interview, Society

Nearly 2 million Australians watched Indonesian-born sisters Tasia and Gracia Seger take out the final of My Kitchen Rules on 26 April. Indonesia at Melbourne spoke to the girls about their approach to cooking and their views on the Australia-Indonesia relationship.

Q&A: Andri Cung, director of 'The Sun, the Moon, and the Hurricane'

Arts, Interview

The Sun, the Moon and the Hurricane, the debut feature from emerging Indonesian director Andri Cung, has won acclaim for the raw and beautiful performances of its young cast. Indonesia at Melbourne spoke to Andri before his arrival in Melbourne, where the film is screening at the Indonesian Film Festival 2016.

Q&A: Dede Oetomo on the LGBT panic

Gender, Human Rights, Interview, Society

Indonesia has seen a sustained attack on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community over the past two months, triggered by comments made by the minister of higher education, research and technology, Muhammad Nasir. Indonesia at Melbourne spoke to the godfather of gay activism in Indonesia, Dede Oetomo, about the moral panic gripping the nation.

Interview: Dr Melissa Crouch on religious freedom

Human Rights, Interview, Religion

What makes West Java so prone to religious intolerance and violence? And which regulations, if any, need to be reformed to reduce conflict? Indonesia at Melbourne explored these issues with Dr Melissa Crouch, whose book examines religious conflict and the use of the courts by intolerant groups in West Java.

Malcolm Turnbull in Jakarta: the make-up after the break-up

Foreign Policy, Interview

Will Australia see a return to warm relations with Indonesia after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's meeting with President Joko Widodo? Professor Tim Lindsey, director of the Centre for Indonesian Law, Islam and Society, spoke to ABC's The Drum, about the prospects for the bilateral relationship.

Q&A: Eka Kurniawan on 'Beauty Is a Wound'

Arts, Interview

Beauty Is a Wound, the just-released English translation of Eka Kurniawan’s 2002 epic novel, Cantik Itu Luka, is receiving glowing reviews, and has prompted comparisons with Salman Rushdie and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Indonesia at Melbourne had a fascinating chat with Eka before his appearance at the Melbourne Writers Festival on 28 August.

Q&A: Todung Mulya Lubis on judicial reform

Interview, Law

Professor Todung Mulya Lubis is one of Indonesia's most respected lawyers and a champion of human rights and judicial reform. Indonesia at Melbourne spoke to Pak Mulya about the future of reform in the justice sector and the controversial Jakarta International School cases.

Q&A: Joshua Oppenheimer

Human Rights, Interview

In town for the Melbourne International Film Festival, director Joshua Oppenheimer spoke to Indonesia at Melbourne about The Look of Silence, his remarkable follow-up to The Act of Killing.

Posted in: Interview