Indonesian Australians are calling on Indonesian President Joko Widodo to liberalise dual citizenship laws, saying they want to retain both nationalities.
More than 2500 people, mostly from the local Indonesian community, packed the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre to see the president before he flew home on Sunday afternoon.
Mr Widodo received a rock star welcome when he arrived at the auditorium for a community concert, walking through the crowd taking photos with fans.
At one point the president went off-script and walked off the stage to mingle with the crowd again and seemingly alarming the Australian security detail in tow.
Mr Widodo used the gathering to talk about his aims to build more infrastructure back home and boost Indonesia's economy, at times joking with the audience.
He urged Indonesians studying in Australia to bring their knowledge back home and expats to open businesses in Indonesia.
Many in the audience took the opportunty to yell out jovial comments directly to the president, with Mr Widodo welcoming the banter.
Outside the concert, some expressed their hope of Mr Widodo changing laws to allow them to retain passports from both Indonesia and Australia .
Indonesia doesn't recognise dual citizenship of those over the age of 18, after which people must choose between the two nationalities.
Susan Ringo-Parsons said the Indonesian diaspora depended on Australia retaining good relations with Indonesia, so that she could still visit family.
"If we can have that, so we can have dual citizenship, we can visit our country," she told AAP.
Marijke De Hass said she wanted Mr Widodo to hear their pleas for dual citizenship.
"Our blood is still Indonesian but we are in Australia, this is our home too."
Indonesia President Joko Widodo wows the audience at a community event in Sydney. Source: AAP
