Tony Abbott discusses Indonesia tensions, secrecy and euthanasia in radio interview Tony Abbott in his first week as Prime Minister has started a culture war. A war against the Age of Seeming. Bolt Ep29 Seg1 TONY Abbott says tensions with Indonesia over the asylum-seeker issue will be simply viewed as a "passing irritant" in the future. Ahead of a visit to Indonesia next week Mr Abbott told 3AW's Neil Mitchell that Australia's relationship with our northern neighbours was strong and believed it would only improve as his government continued talks with the nation. "This is a broad and deep relationship which is going to get broader and deeper over time," Mr Abbott said. The last thing that anyone should want is to have Australia's relationship with Indonesia defined by this boats issue which I am sure will be but a passing irritant. Mr Abbott also refused to weigh into commentary over the Indonesian release of a full transcript of a private conversation between Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and her counterpart Marty Natalegawa. "I don't want to buy into an argument with Indonesia officialdom because Australia has a very good relationship with Indonesia," Mr Abbott said. I am not in the business of being critical of the Indonesian government. You will never get from me any gratuitous commentary about Indonesia. Mr Abbott said he believed the Indonesian government did understand the Australian government's asylum-seeker policy, including its plan to turn asylum boats around at sea back to Indonesia. "We are already at this very moment cooperating with the Indonesians," he said. We have policies which I am sure are very well understood. It's in everyone's interest that we stop the flow of illegal boats. We will working closely with Indonesia stop the flow of illegal boats - that will be good for both of our countries. But we will do it in ways that will fully respect Indonesia's sovereignty. Mr Abbott said he respected and admired Indonesia. "Indonesia is a strong democracy which is striving to do the right thing by all its citizens," he said. I don't want what is in many ways our most important relationship to be needlessly complicated by this boats issue. The Prime Minister also denied there was a culture of secrecy within his government saying a leaked email asking for all media appearances by MPs to be vetted by his office is not "mandatory." Mr Abbott has been defensive on the issue in recent days saying it was not new and was only designed to help MPs and the public get the best possible message. Is it mandatory? Of course not," he said. For three years ever since I became the Leader of the Opposition we have had an advisory if you are doing media it is always worthwhile to check in with (my) office to see what issues are running. Mr Abbott's newly appointed staffer Kate Walshe has been tasked with vetting all media requests and MPs were asked to speak to her before appearing on any national or local media. Colourful Senate challenge for Abbott Premier sponsors state euthanasia bill %caption%href="http://www.news.com.au/tas-parliament-to-debate-euthanasia-bill/story-fng3f5ma-1226727792861%26assetId=1226727792861%26assetType=News_Story%26subType="/> Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings. Mr Abbott was also asked about moves by Tasmania to legalise euthanasia, but he said these laws could not be overturned by the Commonwealth even if the federal government wanted to do so. The Prime Minister this morning said he was not a supporter of assisted dying techniques but that there was little he could do to stop moves in the southern state to see it legalised. "Tasmania is entitled to do whatever Tasmania thinks best," Mr Abbott told 3AW's Neil Mitchell. I don't support euthanasia ... but the Commonwealth parliament has no powers over the state in this respect to the best of my knowledge. Things like this are best left to the discretion of doctors and patients. Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings and Greens leader Nick McKim tabled a joint private members bill to the state parliament yesterday attempting to legalise the practice of euthanasia. The pair said the bill was based on "the values of compassion, respect for human dignity, and freedom of choice." A similar bill was put before the Tasmanian parliament five years ago but was rejected. The Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory have both successfully legalised euthanasia but had the rulings overturned by the Commonwealth who have veto power over the Australian territories. Mr Abbott said doctors should simply continue the practice of administering pain relief to terminal patients, which sometimes had the unintended consequence of shortening a person's life anyway. "There is a world of difference between giving pain relief to someone who is dying and actually killing someone who would otherwise be alive," he said. I think the situation we've got at the moment is a perfectly acceptable one.