There is an enormous cultural gap between Australia and Indonesia. Our northern neighbour, predominantly Muslin and with a population of nearly 250 million, has always been seen by some Australians as a potential threat. The predominant view, however, of Australian government officials, academics and political commentators is that we do not understand Indonesia. Thrown into this state of uncertainly is the journalist, and the result has often been explosive. Do our journalists intend generally to write critically of Indonesia? What do their news organisations expect of their reporting on Indonesia? What professional and practical constraints and hindrance do they face?

This compelling account of how Indonesia has been reported by Australians since 1945 draws substantially on personal interviews with former and current Australian foreign correspondents, their Indonesian staff and Indonesian government officials.