It remains Alexander Downer's turn to answer that question .

Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer has signed a non-aggression treaty with Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Signing the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in South-East Asia was the condition for Australia's admission to the East Asia Summit.

Heh. From the World Today; Amity treaty spells an end to Australia's pre-emption policy

The treaty specifically calls for signatories to renounce the threat of the use of force, emphasising respect for territorial integrity, free from external interference or coercion.

Indonesia was the first to say it meant the end of John Howard's pre-emptive strike policy in Asia. Malaysia's Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar was less explicit, but said Canberra understood the implications of what it was signing up to.

Which suggests the pre-emption was just talking tough prior to an election. But in November 2004, Downer raised a good point in how the Treaty limited Australia. Downer said;

"(This) has been interpreted by successive Australian governments as making it impossible for any Australian government for example to criticise Burma on human rights issues," Mr Downer told ABC TV.

Yet at the pre-ASEAN conference in Kuala Lumpar Malaysia has been strident in criticising Burma, with Downer joining in . So has this issue with the Treaty been resolved? Was this the only sticking point? Journalists can feel free to ask Alexander Downer these questions.

Anything that brings us toward Indonesia is a good thing in my opinion. South Pacific prosperity is going to come through Australia and Indonesia having a tight political, diplomatic, economic and trading relationship. Our prosperity will come through Indonesia, just as their prosperity will come through us.

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