Home > South-East Asia >> East Timor

Greens join Darwin East Timorese to call for Justice

Press Release - April 29, 2005

Greens Senator Kerry Nettle was in Darwin today to meet with local East Timorese and join the call for a just outcome from the Timor Sea boundary talks due to conclude in Dili today.

"The Greens regard the deal currently being offered to the East Timorese by the Australian Government as manifestly unfair," Senator Nettle said. "The East Timorese need to hear the same message from the Mr Beazley.

"The talks have been extended today which indicates that the Australian negotiators are hopeful of clinching their unfair deal. The Greens call on Kim Beazley to give a firm indication that a future ALP government would refer the boundary negotiations to the international court of justice.

"The current deal looks set to rob East Timor of at least $40 billion in revenue but more importantly it will cheat them out of jobs and infrastructure so vital to their long term sustainability."

Local East Timorese representative Ceu Federer said, "By refusing to agree to fair settlement of the maritime boundary Australia is attempting to rob the poorest country in this region of its inheritance.

Australia has said that renegotiating this boundary may create problems for all there boundaries. If that is the case then we should just wait. The East Timorese have time to wait -- There is no need to rush into a bad deal.

"The Australian government cannot claim to be acting in the interests of ordinary Australians. Local East Timorese know that ordinary Australians do not support the theft of East Timor's resources.

Greens Candidate for the Palmerston seat of Blain, Sue McKinnon said, "In Darwin Chief Minister Clare Martin calls for a fast resolution to the talks, eager to secure the flow on economic rewards from this development.

If Ms Martin succeeds in bringing the oil and gas to Darwin without proper resolution of international sea borders, East Timor will be robbed of the infrastructure development and jobs it so desperately needs.

"This NT government is effectively guilty of receiving stolen property.

Contact:

Jon Edwards 0428 213 146 Chris Dubrow 0416 385 803
 

Click here for archive of statements and press releases