Timor deserves Aussie apology
Australia has committed millions to East Timor hoping to keep Chinese influence contained. But if we expect Dili’s friendship, Australia must act like a friend
SCOTT Morrison made his first visit to East Timor as prime minister this week and he took with him bundles of cash.
There was a promise to help foot the bill to upgrade a naval base and to pay for an underwater cable to “transform” the country’s internet services as well as the gift of two Guardian Class Patrol Boats.
It’s part of Australia’s plan to buy Timorese loyalty and counter what it sees as growing Chinese influence on our northern neighbour.
There are concerns China will bankroll an expensive plan to process gas from the Greater Sunrise oilfields in Timor rather than in Darwin or offshore. Australia fears that a Timor heavily indebted to China could be persuaded to allow China to maintain a military presence there.
But there’s a far more cost effective option available to Morrison than trying to buy off Dili’s friendship with boats. An apology, and respect. The prosecution of Australian spy “Witness K” and his lawyer Bernard Collaery is the latest in a long list of insults we should apologise for. If Canberra expects Dili to be its friend, we should first start acting like one.
Witness K and Collaery are facing prosecution for allegedly leaking material showing Australia bugged East Timor in 2004 to gain an advantage in the border negotiations.
That spying revelation helped Timor have the maritime border agreement redrawn, increasing its share of Greater Sunrise revenue from 50 per cent to at least 70 per cent. That’s still a pretty miserly deal for the Timorese, given the field falls entirely within their side of the redrawn borders.
To the East Timorese, the whistleblowing Witness K is a hero and his prosecution by Australia is an insult and an injustice.
Timorese-born Northern Territory MLA Sandra Nelson this week gave a blunt assessment of Timorese views of Australia.
The “average Timorese person on the street” resented Australia, she said.