Australia and Timor-Leste

A questionable history

Australia and Timor-Leste are forever bound together, geographically and historically. Despite vast differences of size, colonisation and wealth, the recent history of the two nations presents challenges to many of the images fondly applied by Australians to themselves and their nation. Australian decisions and actions in World War II and during the Indonesian invasion and occupation are too often given unwarranted gloss, while the facts tell another story.