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"The ACTU calls on the Australian
Government to stop short changing the
East Timorese on maritime boundaries and government royalties. ... The
placement of a maritime boundary between East Timor and Australia will
determine which country receives about $40
billion dollars in government royalties from the Greater Sunrise field,
but in addition to government revenue, there is also the economic
benefit of on-shore infrastructure and investment to take into account.
... such development would enable East Timor to
escape continued poverty and to build a sustainable industry." ACTU
President Sharan Burrow
ACTU Media Release
Embargoed Until 6am
Saturday 23 April 2005
Saturday 23 April 2005
Unions urge fair go for East Timorese in Timor Sea talks
In the lead up to next week's maritime boundary negotiations between
Australia and East Timor, the Australian
Council of Trade Unions is calling on the Australian Government
to ensure East Timor receives its fair share of benefits from gas and
oil projects in the Timor Sea.
Commenting ahead of the maritime boundary
negotiations that are due to take place in Dili from Tuesday to
Thursday next week (26-28 April) ACTU President Sharan Burrow said:
East Timor deserves a fair go and a fair share of the billions of
dollars being earned from the Timor Sea oil and gas reserves. It is
also in Australia's best interests to have a prosperous and stable East
Timor as our neighbour.
The ACTU calls on the Australian Government to stop short changing the
East Timorese on maritime boundaries and government royalties. It is
essential that East Timor enjoys an equitable share of the anticipated
$8 billion of downstream benefits from these projects.
The placement of a maritime boundary between East Timor and Australia
will determine which country receives about $40
billion dollars in government royalties from the Greater Sunrise field,
but in addition to government revenue, there is also the economic
benefit of on-shore infrastructure and investment to take into account.
These long term projects will potentially generate thousands of jobs
and bring with them numerous flow-on benefits to the local communities.
The ACTU recognises that such development would enable East Timor to
escape continued poverty and to build a sustainable industry.
Supporting the economic development of East Timor should be a priority
for the Australian Government. With an annual budget of just $100
million East Timor is very poor. The East Timorese appreciate the $40
million Australia gives in aid, but question why we are taking $2
billion in oil revenue that they believe is rightfully theirs.
Gas and oil from active projects in the Timor Sea is to be piped to
Darwin for processing. The Northern Territory Government predicts that
the pipeline will generate 8,790 jobs and provide a $11 billion boost
to the economy. Both Australian and East Timorese trade unionists are
keen to guarantee that East Timor also benefits from its fair share of
downstream development.
Given that the contested gas and oil fields are in areas that are
likely to be recognised by International Law as East Timorese waters,
it makes sense that the East Timorese people should also benefit from
the downstream processing of their oil and gas.
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer should stop stalling on this
important issue and negotiate a new boundary and act in good faith when
this new round of talks begins this week.
The ACTU also wants to see more emphasis placed on East Timorese
employment on the rigs and platforms in the Timor Sea. We currently
have a situation in which East Timorese workers are filling only a
small portion of the jobs. This is a real wasted opportunity and any
future resource sharing agreements should include more substantial and
tangible provisions for training.
Unions have been active in providing aid and development assistance to
East Timor through the overseas aid arm of the union movement, Union Aid
Abroad - APHEDA. We support any moves that will provide jobs for
East Timorese or put their economy on a more sustainable footing," Ms
Burrows said.
Unions will be participating in rallies for
"A Fair Go For East Timor"
in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide on Tuesday.
Media Contact: Susannah Greenleaf 0418 479 455
Sources:
* Ken Davis, APHEDA: kdavis@apheda.org.au
* ACTU: http://www.actu.asn.au/public/news/1114155086_30351.html
See also:
Timor Sea Talks between Timor-Leste & Australia:
Dili, East Timor 26th 27th & 28th of April, 2005
http://www.pcug.org.au/~wildwood/talks.html
Timor Sea Justice Campaign:
National rallies for A FAIR GO FOR EAST TIMOR!
12noon, April 26, 2005
http://www.pcug.org.au/~wildwood/05apr26demo.html
26 Mar
2005 McKee: How
much is Sunrise really
worth?:
A revised potential revenue estimate for a disputed gas resource
in the
Timor Sea
http://www.pcug.org.au/~wildwood/05mar26mckee.html
APHEDA
-
Union Aid Abroad:
* Home: http://www.apheda.org.au
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