On July 8, 2009, Indonesia held its second presidential election since democratic reforms in 1998. The presidential election in Indonesia is one of the largest single-day national elections in the world, spread over approximately 6,000 islands, 451,182 polling stations and involving more than 150 million voters.
The Government of Indonesia has shown since 1999 that it can successfully hold democratic national and local elections. However, it has welcomed continued international assistance for the 2009 elections. Australia has responded by providing over $6 million to assist Indonesia prepare for and hold its 2009 elections. This funding builds on Australia's strong support for democratic elections in Indonesia over a decade. In 1999, Australia provided $15 million in election assistance and in 2004 Australia provided over $12 million.
This latest funding was provided to:
- the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to assist the Indonesian General Elections Commission (KPU) train election officials, develop electoral procedures, promote accurate reporting and transparency and assist with public relations
- the Australian Electoral Commission to assist its Indonesian counterpart agency prepare polling station manuals to be used by electoral officials, and
- non-government organisations including the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), the Partnership for Governance Reform, and the Asia Foundation to educate voters about the elections and to support the restructure of KPU Secretariat General.
Raising people's awareness of electoral processes and supporting their participation, especially among women, strengthens democracy in Indonesia.
Australia is currently developing its electoral support program for Indonesia for 2009-14.
Indonesia is Australia's largest development assistance partner. Together, the two countries are working in partnership to achieve a prosperous, democratic and safe Indonesia. In 2009-10 Australia will provide an estimated $452 million in development assistance to Indonesia.