5 July 2013
Subjects: Visit to Timor-Leste, border protection policy
E&OE…
Speaker: Julie Bishop, Australia’s Deputy Opposition Leader and Foreign Affairs spokeswoman.
JULIE BISHOP I am visiting Timor-Leste, to maintain contact with the government representatives whom I have met previously. I'm meeting with Prime Minister Gusmao, then with Foreign Minister Guterres, and I will be meeting with President TMR later this morning.
The main purpose is to assure the Timorese government that should the Coalition form government in Australia later this year, we will continue to focus our efforts on strengthening the bilateral relationship and with a view to broadening and deepening that relationship beyond the security focus and the aid donor-aid recipient status.
I'm very keen to hear about Timor-Leste's plans for economic development, not only in oil and gas, but also agriculture and tourism and other areas of possible expansion and what Australia can do to assist.