25 January 2005
....AND YET MORE QUESTIONS
The generous response of the Australian government to the tsunami tragedy also contrasts sharply with its stance towards East Timor.
The hopes raised for a settlement of the dispute over oil and gas reserves in the Timor Sea in August were dashed in October when negotiations broke down. Since then there has been no progress, although in the meantime the Australian Government continues to draw revenue from the area in dispute.
The Australian Catholic Social Justice Council (ACSJC) recently urged the Australian Government to do all in its power to ensure East Timor has early access to revenues from the oil and gas resources of the Timor Sea. Bishop Christopher Saunders, Chairman of the ACSJC said, “A rich nation like Australia can endure delays in these negotiations. East Timor cannot.”
The Timor Sea dispute comprises a number of boundary issues but the most immediate relates to the Greater Sunrise oil and gas fields. At stake is the development of billions of dollars worth of revenue. A reasonable share of this revenue is desperately needed to secure the economic viability and sustainable development of East Timor.
In his statement Bishop Saunders pointed out that “East Timor is among the poorest nations of the world. Half of the population of 900,000 is under the age of 14. Food security is poor and there is widespread malnutrition. Child mortality rates for children under 5 years of age are well over 10%. Industry and commerce is minimal – over 80% of the population survive on subsistence agriculture and farming.
The only resource available to East Timor to provide adequately for its growing population rests in the Timor Sea.” The full text of Bishop Saunders statement can be found at the ACSJC website.
A final question for now in the wake of the tsunami tragedy was recently posed by a writer in the Melbourne Press. What would have happened if some of the tsunami survivors had made their way by boat to Australia? Would they too have been locked up for years in a detention centre in the Australian desert like those who have fled violence and persecution in places such as Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan?
The hopes raised for a settlement of the dispute over oil and gas reserves in the Timor Sea in August were dashed in October when negotiations broke down. Since then there has been no progress, although in the meantime the Australian Government continues to draw revenue from the area in dispute.
The Australian Catholic Social Justice Council (ACSJC) recently urged the Australian Government to do all in its power to ensure East Timor has early access to revenues from the oil and gas resources of the Timor Sea. Bishop Christopher Saunders, Chairman of the ACSJC said, “A rich nation like Australia can endure delays in these negotiations. East Timor cannot.”
The Timor Sea dispute comprises a number of boundary issues but the most immediate relates to the Greater Sunrise oil and gas fields. At stake is the development of billions of dollars worth of revenue. A reasonable share of this revenue is desperately needed to secure the economic viability and sustainable development of East Timor.
In his statement Bishop Saunders pointed out that “East Timor is among the poorest nations of the world. Half of the population of 900,000 is under the age of 14. Food security is poor and there is widespread malnutrition. Child mortality rates for children under 5 years of age are well over 10%. Industry and commerce is minimal – over 80% of the population survive on subsistence agriculture and farming.
The only resource available to East Timor to provide adequately for its growing population rests in the Timor Sea.” The full text of Bishop Saunders statement can be found at the ACSJC website.
A final question for now in the wake of the tsunami tragedy was recently posed by a writer in the Melbourne Press. What would have happened if some of the tsunami survivors had made their way by boat to Australia? Would they too have been locked up for years in a detention centre in the Australian desert like those who have fled violence and persecution in places such as Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan?
Comments:
Post a Comment
