Are Australian jobs at risk from an outcome favourable to East Timor?
The money in dispute is not private income, but government royalties. At this stage the gas is being piped to be processed by an Australian company in Darwin (Australia) creating many employment opportunities. This is highly likely to continue to be the case regardless of the establishment of a maritime boundary. The gas would still be processed in Darwin, the Australian companies would still make their profits, no Australian jobs would be lost and the Australian Government would still receive tax payments from the companies’ profits. The only difference is that East Timor would receive the percentage of royalties that it is entitled to.
