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Public meetings in Darwin, Sydney and Canberra ahead of Timor Gas deal

Timor Sea Justice Campaign Media Release - July 28, 2005

The Timor Sea Justice Campaign (TSJC) is holding a series of public meetings next week ahead of the anticipated signing of a resource sharing agreement between the Governments of Australia and East Timor about the Greater Sunrise gas field.

The free public events in Canberra, Sydney and Darwin, will be an opportunity to hear about the implications of the deal for East Timor, and for people to get involved in the campaign to ensure that the poorest country in Asia gets a fair go.

TSJC coordinator, Tom Clarke, said the public meetings will provide an overview of the issue as well as discussions about the details and implications of the recently proposed deal that would see the Australian Government take at least $20 billion from the gas field located twice As close to East Timor than to Australia.

"The efforts of the East Timorese negotiating team, along with our grassroots campaign and Ian Melrose's television ads, have helped significantly move the Australian Government on this issue. The 50 percent share of royalties from Greater Sunrise is an improvement on the miserly 18 percent that was previously offered to East Timor, but there's still time for the Australian public to demand that Alexander Downer starts abiding by International Law and finishes the job of establishing permanent maritime boundaries," Mr Clarke said.

The meetings will also have a light-hearted side, with a specially prepared skit by satirist John Clarke of a "satellite address from Foreign Minister Alexander Downer".

"The meetings will be ideal for people that believe in justice and a fair go, to get involved in the growing campaign to stop the theft of East Timor's oil and gas," Mr Clarke said.

For more information and contact details for the meetings visit http://www.timorseajustice.org/events.htm

For a 'briefing sheet' about the Greater Sunrise gas field deal visit http://www.timorseajustice.org/resources/greater_sunrise_briefing_sheet.pdf
 

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