Despite continuing rumbles between the Abbott government in Canberra and Indonesia over a variety of issues including boat people and spying, between Canberra and the Indonesian military, things have never been better. It appears there may be a quiet agreement between Australian and Indonesian defense chiefs on undocumented migrants. The Abbott government has managed to bypass Jakarta’s endless rhetoric and political indolence, circumventing political stonewalls altogether and halting boat arrivals with the direct support of the Indonesian military and police. Last week Indonesian officials in Jakarta were astonished to learn that special life rafts to carry boat people were given by the Australians to the Indonesians.