17-06-02 East Timor has laid claims to 100 % of the Greater Sunrise gas field in the Timor Sea. On 17 June 2002, this claim was outlined by East Timorese Prime Minister, Mari Alkatiri. East Timor does not accept Australia's claim to own 80 % of the huge gas reserve.
Alkatiri noted that East Timor plans to claim all of Woodside Petroleum's oil and gas field, Laminaria.

Australia and East Timor have already signed the Timor Sea Treaty, but this does not define any sea boundaries. East Timor gains 90 % of the royalties under this treaty, but the bulk of the Greater Sunrise field is claimed by Australia.