<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Opposition Leader </span><a href="http://9news.com.au/peter-dutton" rel="" target="" title="Peter Dutton"><span>Peter Dutton</span></a><span> has admitted he made a mistake in attributing reports of </span><a href="http://9news.com.au/russia" rel="" target="" title="Russia"><span>Russia</span></a><span> seeking to base military aircraft in Indonesia to the South-East Asian power's president.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The admission came as he and Prime Minister</span><a href="http://9news.com.au/anthony-albanese" rel="" target="" title="Anthony Albanese"><span>Anthony Albanese</span></a><span>traded barbs on </span><a href="http://9news.com.au/usa" rel="" target="" title="US"><span>US</span></a><span> President </span><a href="http://9news.com.au/donald-trump" rel="" target="" title="Donald Trump"><span>Donald Trump</span></a><span>, nuclear energy, electricity prices and housing in a tense second leaders' debate of the federal election.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Trying to pressure Albanese yesterday, </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/russian-request-for-long-range-aircraft-indonesia-defence-minister-richard-marles-response/e7a29274-eff8-4cfe-9797-52aaaeebb759" rel="" target="" title="Dutton said the reported push to base several long-range aircraft at a base in the province of Papua"><span>Dutton said the reported push to base several long-range aircraft at a base in the province of Papua</span></a><span>, about 1300 kilometres from Darwin, had been "publicly announced by the president of Indonesia".</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>AS IT HAPPENED:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/federal-election-2025-live-updates-second-leaders-debate-anthony-albanese-peter-dutton-latest-news-headlines/1282afd4-8830-4557-bb2c-8240c86dc4a2" rel="" target="" title="Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton trade barbs on Trump, Indonesia and nuclear during second leaders' debate"><strong><span>Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton trade barbs on Trump, Indonesia and nuclear during second leaders' debate</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Indonesian Defence authorities have since labelled the report citing sources from the Indonesian government in US military website </span><a href="https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/air/indonesia-mulls-options-after-russia-seeks-access-to-air-force-base" rel="" target="" title=""><em><span>Janes</span></em></a><span> "incorrect" but President Prabowo Subianto is still yet to comment.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Albanese quickly leapt on the error today, accusing Dutton of "verballing" Prabowo in an act of "extraordinary overreach".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In tonight's second election leaders' debate, on the ABC, Dutton said he should have referred to sources inside the government instead of to the president.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/federal-election-2025-peter-dutton-admits-mistake-over-indonesia-comment-debate-anthony-albanese/bb84cd30-1113-4e01-bb1b-a87ea87478f3" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It was a mistake, and I'm happy to admit that," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"What we've got from the Indonesian authorities in the reports, and the Prime Minister commented on these reports yesterday as well, was that the sources inside the Prabowo government confirmed that that was the case. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Now what we've seen in the last 12 hours or so is that the Russian envoy to Indonesia has confirmed that there have been discussions, and obviously there is a concerning closeness in that relationship. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"And I think the main point here is that the prime minister knew nothing of it, nothing of the concerns, nothing of the prospect."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Albanese labelled the response an "extraordinary double down", stressing the importance of Indonesia as an economic and defence partner.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"President Prabowo, I regard as a personal friend, and we have good relations there," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"And the idea that you just throw out these comments is just extraordinary, and the fact that we just saw a double down on it as if there's nothing to see here, just shows that there's no understanding of the need for diplomacy. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Diplomacy means engaging seriously in a calibrated, serious way, treating Indonesia with respect as we do other nations that we deal with."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Last night Defence Minister Richard Marles said his Indonesian counterpart, Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, had told him "in the clearest possible terms, reports of the prospect of Russian aircraft operating from Indonesia are simply not true".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Indonesian Defence Ministry spokesperson Frega Wenas told Reuters "the report is incorrect".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Russia's ambassador to Indonesia, Sergei Tolchenov didn't confirm or deny the reports when questioned by the ABC today but stressed the importance of cooperation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Interaction between the armed forces of Russia and Indonesia encompasses various areas, including cooperation between the air forces," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Such cooperation is aimed at strengthening the defensive capabilities of both sides, is not aimed against any third countries, and poses no threat to security in the Asia-Pacific region."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><span>More to come.</span></em><span></span></div></div>