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Advertising campaign for a fair deal for East Timor
Greens Press Release - September 25, 2004
Businessman Ian Melrose today launched a new TV commercial to promote a fair deal for East Timor in negotiations over oil and gas reserves in the Timor Sea. The talks began in Canberra this week and will continue in Darwin next week.
The new 60 second ads are a follow up to a 30 second commercial which is screening across Australia this weekend -- including in Adelaide during the coverage of today's AFL final.
The commercials are part of a campaign costing hundreds of thousands of dollars targeting marginal seats and capital cities in the lead up to the October poll. To date Mr Melrose has spent $700 000 on the campaign.
"The Howard Government is short changing East Timor. The oil and gas in the Timor Sea rightfully belongs to the Timorese. This tiny new country needs all the assistance it can get, yet the Australian government refuses to give the country its fair share," Mr Melrose said.
"Since 1999 the Australian Government has received over $2000 million from East Timor oil and has returned only $400 million in aid. "Ripping off a poor nation is not something Australia should become known for.
"The ads are designed to provoke the public and media to ask John Howard why he is treating East Timor so unfairly," Mr Melrose said. "I salute Ian Melrose's determination to get a fair deal for East Timor. The money is needed to build hospitals, schools and police stations in East Timor," Senator Brown said.
"These commercials tell a truth that Prime Minister John Howard and Foreign Minister Alex Downer dare not admit: the Australian Government is robbing one of the poorest nations in the world. The Opposition should take a lead and commit to giving East Timor its rightful resources," Senator Brown said.
Further information: Cate Weate 0405 173 704 Ben Oquist (for Ian Melrose) 0418 45 0745
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