Hugh White dismissed the people smuggling agreement signed by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as a third order issue.
The ANU professor and Lowy Institute analyst described the honorary Order of Australia and the invitation to the president to address Parliament as mere "gestures".
In fact, he suggested Australia had a better relationship with Indonesia when that country was a dictatorship. More
Question Time live
From 2pm Canberra Time, watch our Twitter favorites call the action live from the House on the Hill. More
Changing relations
There has been a very real change in Australia-Indonesia bilateral relations. More
Michael Clarke has come under fire for leaving the NZ tour to be with his fiancee. More
Kevin Rudd's comments as a father, on bullying, have struck a chord with voters. More
Two of the world's oldest civilisations are facing serious financial troubles. More
It wasn't that long ago gold was on the nose, especially in Australia, but now, everyone wants it. More
Is it worth having workers' retirement savings put at risk, and traded at the mercy of the market? More
Two of the world's oldest civilisations are facing serious financial troubles. More
However you look at the emerging crisis in southern Europe, it doesn't look good. More
Until our political leaders act like Australia is an independant, grown up nation of people who are autonomous and proud we will not be taken seriuosly by any country in our neighbourhood. Why would Indonesia want a closer relationship with such a weakly run country?
married with 2, on A failure of leadership in foreign affairs (via story comment)
It's time for an audit of ABC activities and some rationalisation of ABC services. Do we actually need the government to provide programming for every niche market when these things are available on the internet for free?
MarcH, Mark their words: the battle begins (via story comment)
Marion Cotillard introduces a new product to help women be taken more seriously in the workplace.
Chris Parnell and Andy Samberg rap a nerdcore hip hop song about The Chronicles of Narnia.
Water flows over the spillway at Fairbairn Dam in the central western Queensland town of Emerald after solid rains in the area, March 2, 2010. (JuliaH)
Do you agree with China's view that man-made climate change denial is an extreme stance and out of touch with mainstream thought?
Only a carbon tax and nuclear power can save us, writes James Hansen in the The Australian.
"What the world needs is a nation that will set an example, stop pandering to special interests, do what is necessary for the people and the rest of the life on the planet."
Afghanistan is shaping up as a passable re-creation of the Vietnam war, writes Kellie Tranter and Bruce Haigh in On Line Opinion.
"Denial was a feature of the war in Vietnam and it's exactly the same in Afghanistan."
The Washington Monthly's Steve Benen on Glenn Beck's interview with Eric Massa.
"As for Massa, it didn't seem possible for his reputation to deteriorate further. And yet somehow, he managed to find a way."
China and India may be growing faster but in technical innovation there's no contest, writes Hamish McRae in The Independent.
"Whatever happens to American politics, the business community is picking itself up off the floor and is emerging stronger as a result of the battering it has taken."
Go behind the scenes with ABC news journalists as they cover the news agenda around Australia.
Share ABC psephologist Antony Green's expertise as he analyses all things electoral.
Articulate is ABC News Online's daily take on arts news and events in Australia and throughout the world.
Thoughts on the news agenda of the day from ABC News journalists and presenters.
The Shallow End is ABC News Online's way of casting a critical eye over entertainment news from Australia and the world.
ABC Sport Online's daily take on the world of sport.
Florida alligator wrestlers hope a local tradition will grow into a global extreme sport.
The concepts of destiny and luck loom large in Chinese culture.
The Victorian Supreme Court has ruled that victims of schoolyard bullies can seek compensation.
Politicians don't just read cabinet papers, policy documents and daily newspapers.
This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced.
AEDT = Australian Eastern Daylight Time which is 11 hours ahead of UTC (Greenwich Mean Time)
There is only one way to reduce carbon emmissions, or any other emission for that matter. Burn less fossil fuel by using less of its byproducts.
Phil Mayne, on The simple mathematics of decarbonisation in Australia (via story comment)