The Age - April 28, 2005
Claim TV networks refused Timor ads

The commercial television networks have refused to screen advertisements lambasting the federal government over Timor Sea oil and gas negotiations, East Timor advocates said.

The ads, bankrolled by Melbourne businessman Ian Melrose, depict World War II diggers verbally attacking Prime Minister John Howard over the talks with Australia's tiny northern neighbour.

Negotiations, drawn out over the past year, have stalled repeatedly over a disputed maritime boundary.

Australia has been accused of playing hardball over the resources - worth an estimated $41 billion.

Canberra wants the boundary set back closer to East Timor and is seeking most of the royalties from the Greater Sunrise gas field, worth about $9 billion.

It is also asking East Timor to hold off on its permanent boundary claims in return for a guarantee of 90 per cent of revenues from the Joint Petroleum Development Area (JPDA), worth more than $10 billion.

Both governments recently indicated the dispute was moving closer to a compromise solution as talks this week continued in Dili.

Mr Melrose funded the screening of the advertisements to coincide with this week's meetings. Two of the five ads have already run on national television across the networks.

A third is due to be released.

But the Timor Sea Justice Campaign (TSJC) said the final two ads were refused approval by the Commercials Advice Division (CAD) of Free TV Australia, which represents all of Australia's commercial free-to-air television licensees.

In the ad, Marvin 'Doc' Wheetly, a WWII veteran who served in the 2/2 Independent Company says he owes his life to the East Timorese people.

"John Howard, you are making me ashamed," he says.

The TSJC is calling for a permanent boundary at the midway point between the two countries.

"Obviously, the Australian government isn't keen for these messages to become public," TSJC spokesman Tom Clarke said.

"We definitely stand by the ads. We don't think they're defamatory."

Comment was being sought from Free TV.

- AAP

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