East Timor's Foreign Minister Jose Ramos Horta says his country is ready to ratify the Timor Sea Treaty and the Australian Government will owe his people an explanation if it decides to delay proceedings.

The Northern Territory Government is concerned Australia's push to resolve unitisation issues, before it will ratify the Treaty, may threaten the future of the Bayu Undan gas field.

Bringing gas into Darwin from the Bayu Undan field is dependent on the Treaty being ratified soon.

Mr Ramos Horta says recent signals from the Australian Government are disturbing.

"If now Australia has a change of heart, a changing in its mind, ah then it is Australia that will have to clarify to us, to the Timorese people, why now it is dragging its feet."