Defence Minister attends Jakarta meeting

THE government is taking another step towards improving strained ties with Indonesia with Defence Minister David Johnston attending a top level conference in Jakarta on building maritime collaboration.

Senator Johnston will be accompanied by Defence force chief General David Hurley and defence department secretary Dennis Richardson.

The event is the fourth annual Jakarta International Defence Dialogue (JIDD) to be held in Jakarta on Wednesday and Thursday.

The conference agenda document says maritime security and the complex issues it encompasses require collaboration among states and regional bodies for the peaceful regulation of trade, migration and military forces on the open sea.

"This cooperation is not only in the national interest of individual states but can also make the world more secure and protected from threats arising or crossing borders by sea," it says.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will make the opening remarks at an event the Indonesian government says aims to promote intergovernmental cooperation to meet common threats and challenges.

This will be President Yudhoyono's final JIDD. Under Indonesia's constitution, he can't seek a third term at the election on April 9.

Late last year relations with Indonesia were strained by media reports of Australian intelligence monitoring of the mobile phones of Indonesia's leaders.

That sparked a slowdown in defence cooperation at the time when the Abbott government was moving to implement its policy to stop the influx of asylum seeker boats.

Senator Johnston will be a panellist in a conference session on "exploring the Indo-Pacific" which will examine the shift of the global balance of power to this region.

Also attending are China's defence minister General Chang Wanquan and US secretary of defense Chuck Hagel.

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Science back on political agenda

AUSTRALIA'S science community is pushing for specialist advisers across all federal government departments.

Following the Abbott government's scrapping of a science ministry, Science and Technology Australia boss Catriona Jackson said industry leaders are hoping to follow the UK's lead and spread expert knowledge throughout federal divisions.

"We have certainly discussed the idea with the government and there has been some movement, with an appointment in agriculture," Ms Jackson told AAP.

"It is certainly something we would advocate."

While there is a federal chief scientist, and one for each state and territory, greater consultancy would be valuable, she said.

After coming to power in 2013, Prime Minister Tony Abbott reshuffled portfolios and split science between industry and employment, removing the role of dedicated science minister, which had been in place since 1931.

"It's fair to say scientists around the country were concerned when no one was appointed as a science minister," Ms Jackson said.

"But we have suspended our opinions until we see the government's first budget."

In an attempt to fuse stronger bonds between science and politicians, hundreds of the nation's industry leaders will converge on Canberra from Monday to meet with parliamentarians.

Ms Jackson denies there is a greater emphasis on the 2014 event in light of the political restructure but said increased interest and resourcing of the science sector is essential.

"Education and training opportunities leading to jobs in science and technology are a must because those are the jobs that will secure the future," she said.

While Australia is punching above its weight in the sector, more must be done to harness, grow and capitalise on the knowledge, Ms Jackson added.

Mr Abbott and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, who is also Labor's science spokesman, are both due to attend the Science meets Parliament event.

"Parliament will be filled with talk of ideas and possibilities, of better ways to cure disease, to build bridges, to search for new life on other planets," Ms Jackson said.

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Dubai refinancing deal on $22bn debt

DUBAI has reached an agreement with Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates' central bank to extend payment of $US20 billion ($A22.23 billion) of debt due this year.

Dubai built up tens of billions of dollars in debt during a building boom but struggled to repay it as the global financial crisis battered its economy and property market.

Dubai is one of seven emirates in the UAE.

The UAE's official WAM news agency reported on Sunday the deal gives Dubai five more years to repay the debt at a fixed interest rate of 1 per cent. The term is renewable.

The debt consists of a $US10 billion loan from the oil-rich emirate of Abu Dhabi, which is also the UAE's capital city, and another $US10 billion in central bank bonds.

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