THIRTEEN years ago today, the Bali bombings brought home to Australians the horror of Islamic extremism in our region. As we solemnly observe the anniversary of an atrocity that cost 202 lives, including those of 88 Australians, we need to understand that the threat of jihadist terrorism remains undiminished and the challenge posed by the so-called Islamic State caliphate demands ongoing close co-operation between Australia and Indonesia. The problem of extremism within Australia is clear after incidents such as last week’s murder of a police worker in Parramatta, in Sydney’s west. Islamic State is also edging closer with the mushrooming of the organisation’s cells in Indonesia, which appear to be operating largely without intervention.

… Such inaction is contrary to the advice of the pre-eminent regional authority on Islamic militancy in Southeast Asia, Rohan Gunaratna, who insists that Indonesia needs to intercept the travel abroad of Islamic State recruits, dismantle hundreds of social media sites disseminating radical propaganda, detain militant returnees, and disrupt jihadist funding.