TLGov: 2016, a year of action

2016, a Year of Action

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Minister of State and of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and

Official Spokesperson for the Government of Timor-Leste

 Dili, December 30th, 2016

2016 a Year of Action

As 2016 draws to a close the Government reflects on a year of action and looks forward to 2017 with commitment and confidence.

This year the Sixth Constitutional Government has remained focused on delivering the services, policy and legislation needed to fulfill its Program and continue Timor-Leste’s development journey set out in theStrategic Development Plan 2011-2030.

The Government Program recognizes that “the true wealth of any nation is in the strength of its people” and that “maximizing the overall health, education and quality of life of the Timorese people is central to building a fair and progressive society.”

In 2016 the roll out of the Family Health Program has been an outstanding success with families interviewed across the nation and registration already fully completed in the municipality of Aileu. The Tobacco Control Regime, promulgated in Juneand lauded by the World Health Organization as “a path-breaking example for developing countries”, is now being implemented. In the field of education, 2016 saw the expansion of Secondary Technical-Vocational Education to enable more students gain technical skills that prepare them for the labor market.

The Government has continued to deliver on its program to encourage economic diversification by focusing on productive areas of the economy, building and improving essential economic infrastructure, and addressing industry, financing and trade constraints.

This year the Mining Code and General Forestry Regime were approved and the Draft Tourism Policy released for comment. Tourism came ‘online’, literally, with the launch of the Government’s websitewww.timorleste.tland the development of an international marketing campaign.

In December Timor-Leste progressed in its candidature for membership of the World Trade Organization when it was granted observer status, prompting ASEAN to applaud “Timor-Leste’s commitment to the WTO accession process, and its efforts to undertake social and economic reforms to this end.”

In October the World Bank, who along with the Government stress theimportance of developing our domestic economy and supporting economic diversification, reported that the Government’s “reform efforts are beginning to show results, with a pipeline of Foreign Direct Investment emerging” and said that  “In 2016 and 2017, domestic growth is expected to continue in a similar range as the last two years, with growth forecast at 5.0 and 5.5 percent, respectively.”

Regarding this Foreign Direct Investment, the Heineken beverage plant based in Hera was completed on time with the first brew placed in fermentation tanks on the 20^th of November and the TL Cement facility based in Baucau, which will produce cement clinker base for export and cement for domestic supply, is moving toward the construction phase.

In terms of international relations and foreign policy 2016 has been a milestone year. In October Timor-Leste transferred the Presidency of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries [CPLP] to Brazil after a successful role leading the organization since July 2014. The first ever Global Economic Forum of the CPLP was held in Díli in February bringing delegations from over 20 countries and presenting opportunities for CPLP countries to develop business in the Asia Pacific region. The process of Timor-Leste’s accession to ASEAN continued with the consolidation of national readiness and participation in the ASEAN Regional Forum and other regional and global meetings. In August Timor-Leste also hosted the ASEAN Civil Society Conference / ASEAN People’s Forum 2016.

This year the Government of Timor-Leste made important progress in its work to establish maritime boundaries with our neighbours Indonesia and Australia. During his official visit to Timor-Leste in January, the President of Indonesia, H.E. Mr. Joko Widodo, reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to “accelerate the completion of border negotiations” with maritime boundary negotiations to initially focus on waters to the north of Timor-Leste and then move to the south.

In April the Government of Timor-Leste initiated a United Nations Compulsory Conciliation process with Australia to assist the resolution of maritime boundaries, and after overcoming jurisdictional challenges the process is now well underway with meetings in October being described as “very productive” and signaling that both parties “should aim to reach agreement within the timeframe of the conciliation process” to be concluded in September 2017.

Whilst many challenges remain for Timor-Leste, 2016 gave rise to a number of long-term reports that showed how far we have come and what we can be proud of achieving.

In September the World Economic Forum reported that our country had been ranked in the top ten countries to have made the most progress converting economic growth into wellbeing over the period 2006 to 2014. In October a major study published in the medical journal the Lancet and launched at the United Nations rated Timor-Leste as the most improved of 188 nations in the health-related Sustainable Development Goals index for the period 2000-2015.

Other reports are confirming that our people are healthier and living longer. The World Health Organization in 2014 rated Timor-Leste as one of the top six countries in the world for making the greatest progress in improving life expectancy between 1990 and 2012. The 1990 figure of 50 years had risen to 66 years by 2012 and according to the WHO, is now approaching 70 years in 2016.

These are significant achievements!

As 2017 approaches we are confident that with the General State Budget unanimously approved and promulgated, the recent experience of orderly local elections conducted across the nation, and our consistent and sustained environment of peace and stability, the upcoming 2017 Presidential and Parliamentary elections will be an overwhelming success.

Government Spokesperson, Minister of State Agio Pereira noted “the Government, ever conscious of its responsibilities to the people of Timor-Leste, has worked hard to deliver results based on its Program. This year has been marked by achievements which position the country well going into 2017. Whilst acknowledging there is always more to do, the Government takes this opportunity to congratulate all for their efforts to develop and build the nation and to reaffirm our confidence in the people of Timor-Leste and the future of our nation.” ENDS

Seasonal Worker Program increases by 33 per cent across Northern Territory

By Daniel Fitzgerald

RELATED STORY: Seasonal workers fill backpacker void on NT mango farm

RELATED STORY: Seasonal workers swap East Timor for East Kimberley

RELATED STORY: Growers look to Pacific Seasonal Worker Program because of backpacker tax

MAP: Katherine 0850

Northern Territory farmers are increasingly turning to workers from the Pacific Islands and East Timor to fill their labour demands.

Horticulture farms across the Northern Territory have this year employed 33 per cent more workers through the Seasonal Worker Program than last year.

Around 398 workers from 10 countries have been employed to pick fruit across 12 farms.

The NT Farmers Association said the increase was partly due to the uncertainty created by the debate around the backpacker tax.

Farmers in the Katherine region told ABC Rural earlier this year they saw workers from the Pacific Islands and East Timor as a more reliable source of labour.

For mango and citrus grower Sevenfields, labour from the Pacific Islands are preferred over backpackers.

Harvest supervisor at the company's Katherine farm, Emma Harrison said having previous staff return for subsequent harvests was an advantage.

"We want people that can come back for the next five years, that are going to be experienced, they are going to know what to do year in, year out," Ms Harrison said.

"We try not to use backpackers as much as we can, for the fact that they are not as reliable as [the Solomon Islanders]; they are here for six months, they do the mangoes and follow through with the citrus later on.

"Backpackers aren't willing to hang around for that time, and they will never come back the year after."

Growers come to terms with backpacker tax debate

The backpacker tax debate has had a huge effect on the horticulture industry, with much of Australia's fruit and vegetables brought to customers by teams of seasonal workers.

Sevenfields is now employing 29 Solomon Islanders directly, instead of through a labour-hire company.

Ms Harrison said the arrangement was better for both the company and the workers.

"We can manage where they stay, what they are getting paid, it reduces the cost on us because with a contractor you have to pay [more]," she said.

Ms Harrison said the men from the Solomon Islanders were quick to learn about mango harvesting.

"They are all really passionate about learning how and why we do things on the farm," she said.

"It is great that they put some care and passion into the fruit. They understand it takes 11 months to grow mangoes, and then for them to pick it in a four-week period is quite quick, and they take the care, which brings out better mangoes."

Wage a drawcard for Pacific Islanders

One of the Solomon Islander's working at Sevenfield's farm for five months is Brian Steward.

He said the $1,000 he can earn in a week in Australia would take him around seven months to earn in the Solomon Islands.

With the money he earns in Australia, he planned to help his family.

"We are going to start a little [business] for ourselves, that is what I am here for, to earn money and go back to do something for my family," Mr Steward said.

He was keen to return to Katherine for the next mango harvest.

"If Sevenfields ask me to come back I would love to come back," he said.

Fellow worker Alex Aubela, said there were many people in the Solomon Islands who wanted to come pick fruit in Australia.

"It is pretty hard to find jobs back at home, here it is much easier to earn a lot of money than back home," he said.

2017 Timor-Leste State Budget approved unanimously

Minister of State and of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and

Official Spokesperson for the Government of Timor-Leste

 Dili, December 9th, 2016

2017 General State Budget Approved Unanimously in Final Vote

On the 9^th of December National Parliament voted unanimously to give final approval to the 2017 General State Budget with 60 votes in favor, none against and no abstentions. The approved Budget has an estimated total expenditure of $1,386.8 million, with the main categories of expenses as Salaries and Wages $209.7 million, Goods and Services $395 million, Public Transfers $421 million, Minor Capital $12.1 million and Capital Development [including the Infrastructure Fund and loans] $349 million.

Speaking after the final vote Prime Minister, H.E. Dr. Rui Maria de Araújo, thanked all members of National Parliament for “the democratic and constructive way in which the 2017 General State Budget was debated” and noted that for the Government the unanimous vote “represents a vote of confidence which the Sixth Constitutional Government, until the last day of its work, will want to honor, working with even more commitment to the People and the Nation."

During its passage through National Parliament the Budget was considered in generality and approved unanimously on the 25^th of November. After presenting questions and debating issues, Members tabled approximately 80 proposed amendments that were considered by the ‘Eventual Commission for the Collection and Analysis of Proposals for Amendments to the Draft Law’. The Prime Minister observed that National Parliament’s decision to set up the Commission lead to “frank and democratic” discussion and the accommodation of many proposed amendments “without compromising the tax ceiling initially established and without distorting the Government’s commitments regarding the implementation of projects, programs and activities proposed for 2017.”

Prior to the final unanimous vote on the 9^th of December, the Budget was discussed in the Plenary and voted on in detail, with analysis of each article of the proposed draft law. The 2017 General State Budget Law will now be presented to the President of the Republic, H.E. Taur Matan Ruak, for promulgation.

Closing the National Parliament’s final session concerning the 2017 General State Budget, the Prime Minister reiterated the Government’s “commitment to carry out the program of its mandate” with its focus on measures “to make the non-oil economy more dynamic and to increase the sustainability of national development.” ENDS