Friends fuel debate on oil

– Jim Mynard
THE Casey Friends of Ermera will hold a public meeting at 8pm in the Casey Civic Centre on Monday, 28 November to discuss the Greater Sunrise oil and gas fields.
Friends’ president Jan Trezise said negotiations between the East Timorese and Australian governments over the oil fields ended earlier this year.
Ms Trezise said the meeting will increase public awareness of the implications of these negotiations.
Guest speakers Tom Clarke and Chip Henriss-Anderssen, of the Timor Sea Justice Campaign, will provide the latest information about the likely consequences for East Timor, Australia’s nearest and poorest neighbour.
Mr Clarke said the Howard Government was depriving the poorest nation in Asia of billions of dollars to which it was legally entitled, and the band-aid solution adopted 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,” Mr Clarke said.
Ms Trezise said this was a perfect opportunity for the community to learn about the Australian Government’s relationship with the newest nation in our region.
“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.
“Paramount in the group’s endeavours has been a strong relationship with the Ermera community and its leaders, and an understanding of its needs.
“It is this sort of relationship the group wishes to encourage between the governments of the two richest and poorest nations of our region,” Mr Trezise said.