DILI, 28 january 2025 (TATOLI) – Anthony Stephen Burke, the Australian Minister for Home Affairs, Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Cyber Security, and the Arts, and Leader of the House and Timor-Leste’s President, Jose Ramos Horta, on tuesday, held substantive discussions on strengthening the longstanding friendship between Timor-Leste and Australia, focusing on labor mobility, border management, cyber security, and cultural cooperation, people smuggling and human trafficking.
The meeting discussed key areas on enhancing the Pacific Australia Labor Mobility (PALM) Program, expansion of seasonal employment opportunities and educational pathways through scholarships and vocational training, strengthening of mechanisms for monitoring working conditions of Timorese workers in Australia, and cultural exchange initiatives planned to celebrate Timor-Leste’s ASEAN integration throughout 2025.
President Ramos-Horta emphasized the vital role of remittances from Timorese workers in Australia in supporting families and contributing to national development, requesting an expansion of existing programs with increased placement opportunities.
“Australia has consistently proven to be a steadfast partner in Timor-Leste’s journey towards development and prosperity. The expansion of labor mobility programs and the strengthening of cultural ties will further deepen the bonds between our nations, benefiting both our peoples. We look forward to building upon these opportunities, particularly as Timor-Leste enters a new chapter with its ASEAN membership,” said President Horta in a statement.
On the same day, Minister Burke also held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, at the Government Palace, where the two discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation in the aforementioned areas.
“We thank Minister Burke for visiting our country to strengthen our longstanding friendship,” said the Prime Minister after meeting Minister Burke, in Dili, today.
Minister Burke reaffirmed the Australian Government’s commitment to protecting labor rights, with enhanced mechanisms for monitoring working conditions and ensuring “equal conditions for equal work” for Timorese workers in Australia.
He underscored Australia’s commitment to the bilateral relationship, highlighting the deep bonds of friendship between the two nations and their shared vision for regional stability and prosperity.
Burke said Australia is committed to working with Timor-Leste to address shared challenges such as irregular migration, including people smuggling and human trafficking, border management, and cyber security.
“Over 9,500 people of Timorese origin call Australia home, and we appreciate the contribution they make to our country. Our people-to-people links with Timor-Leste show the strength of the bilateral relationship and the potential that exists for expanding future cooperation,” said Minister Burke. “I also hope to strengthen the artistic and cultural relationship between Australia and Timor-Leste. By sharing stories through art, we can foster mutual understanding, and gain deeper insights into ourselves.”
He said the special friendship between the people of Timor-Leste and the people of Australia is something that goes beyond the government: “It goes to people, it goes to families, it goes to workers and holidays, and goes to education. But, ultimately it means there’s between TL and Australia, an unbreakable bond.”
“We have discussed the full range of my portfolios. From some of the extraordinary work of Timorese artists through to the roles in providing security. Providing security from international crime networks, providing security online, and making sure that criminal networks who want to traffic people are not able to do so,” Burke said.
Meanwhile, Minister Burke and Timor-Leste’s Justice Minister, Sergio Honai, also discussed the commitment to combat the global threats posed by drug trafficking and other forms of transnational crime, such as human trafficking, and so on.
The meeting was attended by key officials from both nations, including Timor-Leste’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, Minister of the Interior, Francisco Guterres, Australian Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Caitlin Wilson, and other distinguished representatives.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins