Lowy Institute Special Event with Kirsty Sword Gusmao

Kirsty Sword Gusmao, former Australian aid worker and wife of Timor-Leste’s Prime Minister, will be the guest speaker at a special Lowy Institute salon event on Friday, 16 May.

Timor-Leste’s relationship with Australia has come into sharp focus in recent months with the controversy over Australia’s role in developing the rich natural gas reserves in the Timor Sea. But Australia has played a much broader role in Timor-Leste. Australia’s front-line support was crucial in Timor-Leste's transition to independence, and Australian soldiers and police officers have served in peacekeeping roles there since 1999. Australia is Timor-Leste’s principal development partner, with aid spending forecast at $115.6 million in the current financial year. Australian aid has focused on building new institutions, improving services including in health and education, and increasing access to water and sanitation.

The development hurdles facing Timor-Leste, the youngest and poorest nation in Southeast Asia, are significant. Achieving better access to justice, higher levels of education, and overcoming gender inequality are particularly challenging. In a special salon event, Ms Sword Gusmao will bring her extensive experience and unique perspective to what will be a fascinating discussion on the often fraught relationship between Australia and one of its closest neighbours.

Ms Sword Gusmao, in conversation with the Lowy Institute’s Jenny Hayward-Jones, will explore the intersection of aid and international relations between Timor-Leste and Australia.