Tony Abbott seems to be having difficulty dealing with the tapping of phones belonging to the leadership of Indonesia.
Recognising that they are the largest Islamic country on Earth, our nearest neighbour of significant size, have an aggressive military as large as (or larger than) ours and the difficulties already experienced over people smuggling, turning back boats, and East Timor, Tony could do with some help.
Given his addiction to three-word one-liners, he could say ‘we are sorry’, but perhaps more is required; after all he is not feeding the intellectually challenged shepherds of the Murdoch flock now.
Indonesians may require something more substantial. May I suggest the following form of words:
‘Dear Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono,
‘On behalf of the people of Australia may I apologise wholeheartedly for the errors of Australian secret service organisations. What they did was unforgivable and will not happen again. We are particularly embarrassed by the invasion of the privacy of your dear wife. Please convey our deepest regrets and assure her that this will not happen again.’
Vince Keane, Murwillumbah
With Tony Abbott so excruciatingly out of his depth in the role of Prime Minister … surely he is spiralling closer to the time for intelligent, educated, globally aware Malcolm Turnbull to take over.