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Timor Oil ads refused

Timor Sea Justice Campaign News Release - April 28, 2005

The latest TV ads about the Timor Sea dispute, financed by Australian businessman Ian Melrose, have been refused approval by the Commercials Advice Division (CAD) of Free TV Australia.

The ads feature World War Two veterans, who fought in East Timor, attacking John Howard over his Government's unilateral depletion of gas and oil fields in the Timor Sea.

Marvin 'Doc' Wheetly, who served in the 2/2 Independent Company said he owed his life to the East Timorese people. "John Howard you are making me ashamed," Mr Wheetly said.

The group of veterans explained that East Timorese children are dying due to a lack of basic health care, while the Australian Government has taken over $2 billion in contested gas and oil royalties from East Timor the poorest country in Asia.

"This is not the ANZAC spirit," Ray Parry, another of the WWII veterans featured in the ad, said.

However, the TV ads aimed at raising public awareness of the Australian Government's refusal to follow current principles of International Law in establishing maritime boundaries with East Timor, may not be screened on commercial television.

CAD has expressed concerns that the ads may be defamatory and has refused to issue them with a CAD number that would allow commercial networks to air them.

Ian Melrose, who is spending $2 million on the advertising campaign and has already experienced trouble having previous ads screened, dismissed the concerns and claimed Australians have the right to know the facts about the Australian Government's actions.

"The Australian Government is refusing to play by the rules. It has withdrawn recognition of the maritime boundary jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice and it is depriving East Timor of billions of dollars which East Timor is legally entitled to. It doesn't want the Australian public to become aware of this," Mr Melrose said.

"The veterans in the ads are people who served for their country and they have a right to express their views about the Howard Government's betrayal of the ANZAC spirit. It's time that Alexander Downer and John Howard took responsibility for their Government's actions, they have the power to resolve this issue," Mr Melrose said.

The ads were to screen this week following ANZAC day and while maritime boundary negotiations where held in East Timor. "The ANZAC spirit is all about a fair go," veteran Bernie Langridge said.

The Timor Sea Justice Campaign claim that the Australian Government is attempting to short change East Timor out of $40 billion of gas and oil royalties. "John Howard make me proud again, give East Timor a fair go," Mr Langridge said.

Both of the ads can be viewed online at: http://www.timorseajustice.org/tvcs.htm

For further information please contact:

Tom Clarke, Co-ordinator, Timor Sea Justice Campaign, Melbourne
Mobile: 0422 545 763
Email: tom@timorseajustice.org
 

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