Australia–Indonesia relations

The five remaining members of the Australian "Bali Nine" drug ring flew home Sunday after 19 years in jail in Indonesia, ending an saga that had frayed relations between the two countries.

Indonesian police arrested the nine Australians in 2005, convicting them of attempting to smuggle more than eight kilograms (18 pounds) of heroin off the holiday island of Bali.

Indonesia and Australia on Tuesday finalized a new bilateral defense treaty that will enhance the neighboring nations' ability to operate their militaries in each other's territory.

Indonesian anti-terrorism police killed three suspects after a gunfight on the outskirts of the capital, Jakarta, on Dec. 21, and foiled a suicide bomb plot, a police spokesman said. 

Australia on June 15 told Indonesia to better secure its borders in a stinging rebuke after Jakarta demanded answers to allegations Canberra paid to turn back a boat of asylum-seekers.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said May 1 that Indonesia's sympathy for the families of two drug traffickers it executed was a good sign for resuming strong ties between the nations.