During the decade here under review, basic circumstances conditioning relations between Indonesia and Australia have undergone an important change. This has been primarily the result of the major political upheaval in Indonesia following the abortive coup of September–October 1965. Until the coup, Indonesia tended to be seen as, at best, a source of serious embarrassment to Australia, particularly in relation to Australian policy in New Guinea and Asia, and, at worst, as a positive threat to the security of ’Free Asia’, Papua New Guinea and Australia. Since 1965, Indonesia has come increasingly to be seen as a potential ally, worthy of Australian assistance, although the culmination of this apparent transformation was not reached until President Suharto’s visit to Australia in 1972. During that visit, press headlines provided dramatic evidence of the extent to which Indonesia was seen to have changed: ’Suharto—a seeker of security’, ’New defence link with Suharto’, ’President Suharto meets Aust. Govt, military links with Indonesia discussed’.