Comedy from Down Under

Upon browsing Australian Embassy Online, one could be forgiven for thinking that the principal migration officer is moonlighting as a stand-up comedian. He/she opens with "...our client service is based on access and equity which means no preference is given to clients because of their nationality ...".

Obviously, the principal migration officer has yet to hear of ETAs, which offer tourists from several western countries free visitor visas within two hours, while Indonesian tourists have to pay the new GST adjusted rate of Rp 310,000 (nonrefundable) and wait three working days or longer with no guarantee of approval. Perhaps the principal migration officer could explain the punch line, because most Indonesian tourists intending to travel to Australia are not laughing.

Log on to Australian Embassy Online next week when we find out why the principal migration officer crossed the road.

MARK RIDDETT

Jakarta