Meeting will check on oil

By Rebecca Fraser
AUSTRALIA and East Timor have always enjoyed a close relationship but the two countries have always disagreed on one matter — oil.
Later this month Casey residents will be able to come along and learn more about this complex issue at a public meeting organised by Friends of Ermera.
The Caseybased group began in 2002 and aims to work for the benefit of the people of Ermera, a district of East Timor.
Friends of Ermera aims to help the East Timorese rebuild their lives and communities and seeks to do this by raising funds and organising the provision of goods, services and technical advice, and encouraging Casey groups to assist in the country’s process of recovery and reconstruction.
Friends of Ermera president Jan Trezise said negotiations between the East Timorese and Australian governments over the Greater Sunrise oil and gas fields had concluded earlier this year.
She said the public meeting on Monday 28 November would help increase local awareness of the implications of the negotiations.
“This is a perfect opportunity for the community to learn about the Australian government’s relationship with the newest nation in our region,” she said.
Ms Trezise said East Timor was in a vulnerable financial position and it was still difficult to gain accurate information about the oil negotiations.
“East Timor’s entire budget is the same size as the City of Casey’s budget.
“At the moment they don’t borrow and they just go without.
“They know that if they have to pay the money back it would take them years with all of the interest and they don’t want ongoing debt for the future generations to come.
“They rely on groups like us to assist with rebuilding,” she said.
The night’s guest speakers will include Tom Clarke and Chip HenrissAnderssen of the Timor Sea Justice Campaign.
Mr Clarke believes the Howard Government is depriving the poorest nation in Asia of billions of dollars that the country is legally entitled to and the negotiations were a bandaid solution that would not address the broader issues of sovereignty.
“While the majority of the oil and gas fields are on the East Timor side of the half way mark between Australia and East Timor, the Australian Government fails to fully accept East Timor’s legitimate claim,” he said.
Over the past three years the Friends of Ermera have supported the Ermera region of East Timor by funding the rebuilding and resourcing of kindergartens, building relationships between Australian and East Timorese schools, providing scholarships, supporting a women’s refuge, and providing assistance with health programs.
Ms Trezise said it was paramount in the group’s endeavours that they build a strong relationship with the Ermera community and its leaders and an understanding of the district’s needs.
“It is this sort of relationship which the group wishes to encourage between the governments of the richest and poorest two nations of our region.
“We encourage you to attend to hear about this issue which is so important to East Timor,” she said.
The public meeting at 8pm Monday, 28 November is at the City of Casey offices, Overland Drive, Narre Warren.