11/9/2013 10:33
PRESIDENT Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has opened the way for Tony Abbott to make his first foreign visit as prime minister to Indonesia, with bilateral talks on the controversial policy of turning around asylum-seeker boats possible within a fortnight.
The development came as another key plank of Mr Abbott's asylum-seeker policy began to take shape, with Chief of Defence David Hurley planning to promote a new three-star general to lead border-protection operations for the incoming Coalition government.
PETER ALFORD AND BRENDAN NICHOLSON From: The Australian September 11, 2013