Timor's oil and Australia's credibility gap.

Submarine oil and gas reserves in what is known as the Timor
Gap has been an issue since the Portugese controlled Timor Leste,
and is believed to be behind the invasion of Timor Leste by
Indonesia in 1975. The legality of agreements between Australia
and Indonesia over the sharing of resources in the Timor Sea have
been questioned since Timorese independence was achieved in 1999.


The Australian government refused to UN rulings on the sea
boundaries. In 2016 Timor Leste launched proceedings for
compulsory conciliation.


Australia and Timor Leste are currently negotiating in thee
Conciliation Commission for permanent maritime boundaries, but
given Australia's record, supporters of Timor Leste are not
confident of a fair outcome for Timor, and the Commision itself
says the process will be 'protracted'.


A delegation of the Timor Sea Justice Alliance approached
Senators on June 13 to raise the issue in Parliament, and if a
fair decision is not arrived at by the time of the Commission's
deadline on September 17, to initiate a Senate enquiry.


(Graphic; Foreign Minister Gareth Evans celebrates the now
contested Timor Gap 'treaty' with Indonesia's Ali Alitas with
champagne in 1989)