Comments made by Australian Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, regarding advertisements featuring World War Two veterans criticising the Government's theft of East Timor's oil and gas resources, were today branded as ludicrous and disappointing by the Timor Sea Justice Campaign.

Mr Downer deliberately attempted to muddy the waters over the issue by criticising businessman Ian Melrose's financing of television ads, which highlight the Australian Government's refusal to abide by current International Law and set a maritime boundary with East Timor along the median line.

Timor Sea Justice Campaign spokesman, Tom Clarke, said the Foreign Minister obviously didn't do his homework yet again.

"If Mr Downer had taken the time to do some research he would know that Mr Melrose continues to fund numerous health and agricultural projects in East Timor. The money being spent on the advertising campaign is in addition to these ongoing commitments," Mr Clarke said.

The television ads were designed to raise awareness of the issue in mainstream Australia.

"Our question to the Foreign Minister is how many hospitals and how many lives could be saved had our government not taken more than $2 billion in revenue that rightly belongs to our poorest and most distraught neighbours.

It's in Downer's hands to stop the bullying approach to these talks and to actually give the East Timorese a fair go and a chance to overcome the preventable diseases and widespread hunger they currently face," Mr Clarke said.

The Howard Government is suggesting a "fish for a day" solution rather than a "fishing rod" for a long-term solution to the problems facing East Timor.

"These gas and oil resources present East Timor with an opportunity to overcome poverty through on going and sustainable development of these resources. It would allow East Timor to stand on its own two feet economically and reduce the needless deaths of children from preventable diseases." Mr Clarke said.

The Timor Sea Justice Campaign also attacked Downer for misleading the Australian public by referring to the 90/10 percent spilt in the temporary resource sharing arrangement, which only includes one third of the contested oil and gas resources.

"Any claims of Australian generosity are ridiculous. The Australian Government is attempting to short change the East Timorese out of $40 billion from the Greater Sunrise field alone. This is a far cry from what Mr Downer would have us believe," Mr Clarke said.

In the lead up to next week's maritime boundary negotiations between Australia and East Timor, the Timor Sea Justice Campaign is urging all Australians who believe in a fair go to contact their local members of parliament and have planned protests in both Syndey and Melbourne.

For more information, please contact: Tom Clarke, co-ordinator, Timor Sea Justice Campaign, Melbourne, 0422 545 763. http://www.timorseajustice.org